Extinguisher disposal

[Guest Guest]

How do I dispose of my empty fire extinguisher if i dont need it??

[Garry Webster]

Hi

If the extinguisher is empty you can take it to your recycling centre or to a scrap dealer. If it is a still full powder or foam extinguisher it is best to pass your extinguisher to the service engineers when he /she installs new fire extinguishers even though they will probably charge you. They will responsibly dispose of the extinguisher (foams and powders are collected and used eg for fertilisers). If you are a home user you can add small extinguishers to the household waste. If you have large extinguishers it is best to ring a fire safety company for a collection price.

Water extinguishers can simply be emptied down the drain, CO2 fire extinguishers can be discharged outside into the environment (careful, this can be very loud and the jet from a CO2 can freeze things as it is extremely cold). Don't be attempted to empty large powder extinguishers - they make an awful mess!

[Brandon]

Most fire extinguishing equipment suppliers, like Safelincs Ltd will dispose of used fire extinguishers, this would mean a engineers visit to the site who will then take them away and dispose of them.

[Guest JayneRho]

Hi, hope you can advise... my widowed mother owns a couple of fire extinguishers which are very old and haven't been serviced for well over 10 years. We want to dispose of them safely, but not sure how to do so? Something tells me they shouldn't just go in the rubbish bin! I know that they mustn't be incinerated or could blow up. Any advice appreciated, Jayne

[green-foam]

Hello, you are right, you can not put a fire extinguisher in the normal waste, however you could try and see if your local recycling centre will take it.

You may also wish to consider putting them on an auction site for COLLECTION ONLY There is an interest in old extinguishers.

[Guest GordonBeas]

I am havinhg a real problem here in East Yorkshire trying to find a place to take out of date domestic fire extinguishers. My re-cycling tip wont take them and the local voluntary fire brigade can't help either. Can you advise, please?

[green-foam]

You have several options to dispose of old fire extinguishers.

1) Find a re cycling centre that will take them (Not just your local tip, although some will take them)

2) If they are discharged and small you can put them in the normal waste.

3) If they are still full there are specialist companies who will take them away for processing.

4) Advertise them on an auction website for COLLECTION ONLY. There is an interest in old extinguishers.

[Tom Sutton]

Gordon it would help if you gave us full details of the domestic fire extinguishers you want to dispose of. Is it an aerosol type or a sealed or rechargeable commercial type, who is the manufacturer, its size, extinguishing medium, age, because a full description helps when trying to respond.

[Guest Alan]

Where can I get an empty fire extinguisher for a project?

thanks!

[Safelincs]

Hi Alan, we can give you some empty units. We are based near Lincoln, so it is a question how far you would have to travel

Harry

[AnthonyB]

If you aren't near Lincoln, but are nearer Sheffield I have a few too!

[Guest DawidSt]

Hello.

I would like to know what do I need to do with all used fire extinguishers we have in our building? I believe they should not be disposed into the waste material skip, can you provide me with any information on disposing the fire

[AnthonyB]

They are controlled waste and can only legally be removed by a licensed waste contractor, or if taking them yourselves, to a licensed waste transfer station.

Fire extinguisher maintenance contractors can often dispose of them, but you should see that they have a Waste Carriers License (in any case but particularly if you are paying them!) otherwise you are committing an offence - not all are. You should get a waste transfer note from them.

Most local authority waste stations can take them, but as these are primarily for domestic rate payers most will reject any that appear to be of commercial origin.

https://www.fireprotectionrecycling.co.uk/ are one of the main disposal companies in the UK and in addition to collecting directly also have skips at several trade suppliers sites across the UK.

Where are you? I'm licensed to dispose of extinguishers as well.