Open Forum → How to dispose of a fire extinguisher?

I have two fire extinguishers that I need to PROPERLY dispose of.

The key being properly....

How do I do this??

Take it to the dump?
Put it in with my trash?
Take it to the local fire department to have them do it??

I am at a loss...

Anyone know what the proper way to dispose of them is in New York State???

Thanks in advance.

Put it in the "Free" section on Craigslist. All of the garbage I can't sell gets taken that way.

depends on the type...
Old water can types can be turned upside down and allowed to discharge. Pressurized water (A) can be discharged into the drain. Both, after discharging can be recycled.
Dry chemical (ABC) can be turned up side down, give a couple taps and fire it off in an out door open area (it will still release soem powder, but not all of it. Once all pressure is gone, take the top off, and dispose of the baking soda in the trash. The rest can be sent for recycleing.
CO2 (BC) can safely be discharged away from people or pets, out doors.
Halon will have to be taken in. They can be discharged in large rooms, but the Halon gas will eat up all the oxygen, which is why you would have a hard time finding them at a home improvement center.

D type must be taken in also. The powder is not safe to touch.
Fire departments will generally take care of the dangerous ones for free or a small fee.

They are not in any usable state, the pressure gauge shows insufficient pressure for usage. They might be able to recharge them, but I don't know that for sure.

Edit, these are Kidde(sp?) home usage extinguishers....

In that case, pop them off into a shop vac (running with dry filter in place), take the tops off and throw them away. Send body for aluminum recycleing.

EDIT: You may want to do all of that outside. It could still make a mess. The chemical in side is just baking soda.

fixed for ya

Kiddie can probably recharge them for you (edit: assuming it's dry chemical).

They'll be someone else's problem once you get rid of them in the "Free" section. What somebody else does with the extinguishers would be the last thing on my mind, as long as they're out of my house.

It is probably ammonium phosphate or monoammonium phosphate...not baking soda.

In my neighborhood we have a junk man who comes around every week. He takes BBQ grills, lawn mowers, appliances, all kinds of stuff, and I presume sells it for scrap. Anything I put out there is gone within hours. I've seen him going around with his truck is piled high. All that stuff would otherwise be in the landfill. It's easy to make fun of the junk man but I think he's providing a valuable public service.

If you don't have a junk man or a nearby junk yard, some fire departments have recycling programs. I also vote for giving it away on craigslist or freecycle.

mocycler

What did the manufacturer have to say?

They used to do that in my old neighborhood too. They were mostly from mexico and of course not properly insured - the cost of insurance/gas/maintenance would make this not worth it. So they would overfill their OLD pickups with tons of junk. I remember a few stories about these trucks losing their loads on the freeways and causing nasty accidents.

Key West has amazing sidewalk recycling.... though maybe not for toxic garbage... but anything at all usable is GONE lone before the garbage people ever get there, even some of that an dead AC is Always GONE Just for the copper and other metal scrap value most just don't want to deal with.

A few years ago found some would serve as porch funiture chairs from a place gone out of budiness.

Took them in and disposed of somewhat rusty old chairs.... again gone before garbage truck ever got there.

Aslso forget getting up at 6 am to be out at 8am for a yard sale (unless really hungry) wait til afternoon and all the left overs are at the curb freebies.

My Cushman being a little truck makes that very practical.... though haven't (or need) in some time now.

I know aren't those junk guys something? It's almost as it they can smell an old water heater from miles away!

Here we actually have more than one junk man. It's funny to see them patrolling the 'hood like vultures, trying to score before anyone else. They have to time it just so: Come around too early and no one has anything out yet. Come too late and the good stuff is gone.

I agree with others that the safety of their trucks is suspect. They drive these beat up old wrecks that should probably be junked themselves, then awkwardly pile them high with appliances and heavy items. I'll bet they are not licensed as businesses or have insurance either.

mocycler

I have been sprayed with a fire extinguisher and it doesn't feel like baking soda.