After It's Been Used

Even a short burst means the extinguisher may not work properly next time. Take it out of use and have it recharged or replaced straight away, so you're not left without cover.

Disposing of an Old Extinguisher at Home

Don't put it in your household bin – extinguishers are pressurised containers. If it's from your home, you can usually take it to your council's household waste recycling centre. Check with your council first, as not all sites accept them.

Disposing of Extinguishers From a Business

As with all business waste, you have a legal duty of care to make sure your extinguishers are disposed of correctly. If they're dumped illegally, you could be fined – even if someone else took them away.

  • Check who's taking them. Anyone who collects waste from you should be a registered waste carrier. Many extinguisher technicians aren't. You can check online with the Environment Agency (England), Natural Resources Wales, SEPA (Scotland) or the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
  • Get the paperwork. Ask for a waste transfer note, and keep it, so you can show where your extinguishers went.
  • Be wary of free removal. Disposing of extinguishers properly costs money, even for extinguisher companies. AFFF foam, for example, has to be incinerated at an approved facility, which is expensive. If removal is free, it's unlikely to be an approved service – and you won't know where your extinguishers end up.

Our Certified Disposal Service

We offer a certified fire extinguisher disposal service nationwide, with a visit charge plus a price per extinguisher. We use a nationwide network of approved, insured disposal services, so you don't have to worry – the job is done in line with current regulations.

Every extinguisher we collect is fully dismantled. Everything that can be recycled is, and the rest is incinerated at an approved facility. Get in touch to arrange a collection.

Worth remembering… your fire risk assessment is what decides the equipment your premises need. This guide is general advice, not a substitute for it.

Not sure what you need? Get in touch with our team – we'll be delighted to help. No pressure. No sales patter.