The Fire Department cannot accepted fire extinguishers due to our inability to verify the contents.
Proper home fire extinguisher disposal instructions:
Look on the label of the fire extinguisher for the manufacturer name. Go to the manufacturer’s website to see if the extinguisher has a recall.
If the extinguisher has a recall, contact the manufacturer to provide instructions on safe handling and disposal of the fire extinguisher.
If the extinguisher does NOT have a recall, take the following steps to properly empty the extinguisher and dispose of it properly.
Take the fire extinguisher outside to a well-ventilated area.
Wear protective eyewear (plastic googles, safety glasses, etc.) and a mask to protect your eyes and lungs. Some fire extinguishers can contain contents that irritate the eyes and lungs.
Keep pets and children away from the fire extinguisher.
Place a large, plastic trash bag on the end of the fire extinguisher hose. Secure the bag to the end of the hose with a rubber band and secure the bag with one hand at the same location.
Hold fire extinguisher upside down, so base is pointing towards the sky.
Pull the pin and squeeze the handles together.
This will cause the extinguishing agent inside the extinguisher to be released into the plastic bag.
Keep the handles depressed until nothing more comes out of the extinguisher.
Carefully remove the plastic bag from the end of the extinguisher hose, close / seal bag and place in the trash.
Place the fire extinguisher in a cool, dry place and check the pressure gauge periodically.
Once the pressure gauge needle on the fire extinguisher is below zero, the fire extinguisher may be placed in your regular trash for disposal.
