How to Dispose of a Fire Extinguisher

Keeping used fire extinguishers in a recycle bin or trash can is not advisable since there is a proper way that you can follow to dispose of a used fire extinguisher. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss how to dispose of a fire extinguisher.

To a layman, to dispose of a fire extinguisher, you can keep throwing it away or keep it in your store at home or office. Although this is admissible, if in a scenario where you have multiple fire extinguishers to dispose of, keeping them in your store either at home or office is something that you will get tired of it one day.

However, everyone would expect the fire service to have a garage for all the used fire extinguishers to be able to collect them from the public and probably dispose of them. Well, if that is what you think, they too have a similar mindset, but there is a restriction when it comes to dumping of fire extinguishers to the fire service with the hope to collect and dispose of them.

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Why Fire Service Department don’t Accept Used Fire Extinguishers

For some reason, the fire service department doesn’t accept fire extinguishers from the public. This sounds ridiculous, though, but the fire service department has genuine reasons for not accepting used fire extinguishers from the public and leaving it to them to dispose of.

The Fire Service Department is unable to accept used fire extinguishers to dispose of them because the department couldn’t verify the content. And for security reasons, that’s genuine enough not to accept used fire extinguishers from unknown individuals.

So, if you want to dispose of your fire extinguisher, you’d need to make another router instead of wishing for the fire department to take control of the extinguishers.How to Dispose of a Fire Extinguisher

When to Dispose of a Fire Extinguisher?

When exactly can you decide to dispose of your fire extinguisher? Before disposing of your extinguisher, you want to ensure that there is no more content in the fire extinguisher’s container.

So, before we unleash what to do to dispose of your fire extinguisher to the right channel, below are when to dispose of a fire extinguisher.

  • Your fire extinguisher is 10 years old. You should consider disposing of your fire extinguisher after 10 years of manufacturing.
  • Your fire extinguisher’s sticker or hanging tag is missing.
  • You have used the fire extinguisher without leaving the content inside of it.
  • Your Fire extinguisher is damaged due to some external factors.
  • When there is no pressure gauge in your extinguisher, you can determine this when the pressure gauge is yellow or red, indicating that the pressure is low.

Now, when you observe any of the reasons above, it implies that you can dispose of or change your fire extinguisher.

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How to Dispose of a Fire Extinguisher

It’s known that the fire service department doesn’t collect used fire extinguishers because the content cannot be verified. That doesn’t mean that there are no other means to dispose of a used fire extinguisher. So, below are ways to dispose of your used fire extinguisher without the fire service.

  • Recycle your fire extinguisher
  • Contact the Fire extinguisher manufacturer
  • Take your used or expired fire extinguisher to any hazardous disposal plant.

Now, we will consider the point one after the other. It is worth stressing that one of the ways to dispose of a fire extinguisher that is listed above is enough for you as you don’t have to exercise all the suggested ways.

How to Recycle a Fire Extinguisher

Although a lot of people will advise that you should through your fire extinguisher into the recycle bin once you have used it or the fire extinguisher has expired or is no longer in use.

That sounds like the best option, though, but how many would you drop into the recycle bin if you are in an organization where it doesn’t long before finishing one?

However, the best option to get this done is to find the nearest fire extinguisher recycle service close by. And in no time, the service will collect the used fire extinguisher and charge you a fee to dispose of it.

Find and Contact the Fire extinguisher Manufacturer

This could have been the best option, but only if the name of the fire extinguisher and contact were written on it. With an assumption that the manufacturer’s contact is written on the fire extinguisher, below are the steps to take to dispose of a Fire extinguisher contacting the manufacturer.

Now, to do this, kindly follow the steps below.

  • Find the fire extinguisher’s label.
  • Locate the name and address of the manufacturer.
  • Check whether the extinguisher has a recall back tag.
  • If it does, then contact the manufacturer using the contact information.
  • Follow the instruction given when you contact the manufacturer on how to dispose of your fire extinguisher.

That is it. But if you find out that the fire extinguisher’s manufacturer didn’t offer a recall back when to dispose of, then you need to take the steps below.

How to Dispose of a Fire Extinguisher

If you are left with no option to dispose of your fire extinguisher, this could be your last solution. Therefore, follow the steps below to properly dispose of your used fire extinguisher without the aid of a recycling company or recall from the manufacturing company.

  • Take your “Fire Extinguisher” to a place that is well ventilated.
  • Protect yourself as much as you can. You can wear Google safety glasses.
  • Put on a mask that is good enough to protect your lung and eyes.
  • Please keep away valuables and don’t keep pets and kids at this location at the moment.
  • Look for a big trash bag [plastic is recommended] and place it at the end of the fire extinguisher hose. 
  • Ensure that the bag at the end of the hose is firmly fixed with materials like rubber bands or glue.
  • Point the fire extinguisher to the sky. You can do this by holding the used extinguisher down.
  • Pull the fire extinguisher pin and squeeze the handles at the same time.
  • If there is leftover extinguisher content inside the container, it will be released into the fixed bag.
  • Keep pressing the handle until all the fire extinguishing agent is released into the bag.
  • Carefully remove the band or glue from the bag on the fire extinguisher’s hose and seal it with a device you can trust, after which you can dispose of it in the trash.
  • Now, place the empty fire extinguisher in a cool, dry place until the yellow or red indicator indicates that the fire extinguisher has no more pressure, after which you can dispose of it like your normal waste.

Technically, you’d not want to go through these processes if there is a fire extinguisher recycling company nearby. However, since the option is limited, this should go a long way to help dispose of your fire extinguisher.

With this guide on how to dispose of a fire extinguisher you should be able to dispose of your fire extinguisher now.

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