It happens every so often with Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day and it happened this year.  A potentially unstable chemical that gets set on the counter.

Moose Jaw emergency crews had to deal with that situation this weekend when a container of Crystallized Organic Peroxide was brought in to the city complex on Saturday.  Staff quickly realized what they were dealing with and called the professionals.  

Since the compound was susceptible to shock, the RCMP Bomb Disposal Unit from Regina was called and they detonated the container safely.

Organic peroxide is part of a family of chemical compounds that were often used as bleaching agent or weed killer.  In small amounts and stored properly, they are usually safe but as they get older and if the container becomes damaged they can decompose which can lead to fires or explosions.