Found a giant ~150 lb. steel ball in a creek near my house. It has tiny boreholes and leaked black liquid when we rolled it around.
- Do Not Attempt to Open or Drill: Since the ball has been in an industrial environment, the pits and cracks may contain residues of whatever material the mill was processing. If that mill was handling hazardous materials (such as heavy metals, lead, or coal dust), the “leaked liquid” could be contaminated.
- Weight Hazards: At roughly 150 lbs, this object is a significant crush hazard. Ensure it is placed somewhere stable where it cannot roll or fall on anyone’s feet.
- Disposal: Because of its industrial origin, you should not simply throw this in household trash. Contact your local municipal waste management office or public works department. They may have a specialized scrap metal program for heavy industrial debris, or they can advise you on whether it should be treated as industrial waste based on the material it was used to process.
- Environmental Integrity: If you found it in a creek, it is possible it was used for erosion control or as a makeshift anchor in the past, or it may have washed down from an upstream industrial site during a flood. Since it is leaking material, it is best to remove it from the waterway to prevent any further potential leaching of metals or chemicals into the local ecosystem.
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