how to dispose of old ammunition in california

By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. The casing is generally made from brass but could also be steel. If it is a small agency, they may not be equipped for ammo disposal. The metals can each be recycled, and the gunpowder can be reused as fertilizer. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}. It is usually going to work just fine. Cracked Casing. It is not dynamite, Which has no metal case. You might also ask about ammo disposal at indoor ranges. You might want to check some of the auctions and see what they are selling for. Thank you for the information. We have a section on this forum for selling ammunition. https://www.quora.com/Can-old-bullets-explode. Old ammunition can explode and should always be treated with great care if it shows any signs of degradation. You can use the Earth911 Recycling Locator to find a collection point, or check your city/county website. Whether its old, corroding ammunition, or rounds that wouldnt fire at the range, ammunition is one thing that needs to be disposed of carefully and properly. Alternatively, burying ammo could impact the local wildlife by poisoning drinking water or seeping into the soil and absorbed by local plant life. Help protect the environment by getting rid of your ammo the proper way. Any unwanted ammunition or fireworks can be surrendered to the San Jose Police Department where they will be disposed of properly. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. I've got German 8mm from 1939. 2. You send the unwanted firearm MS. You should never just pitch old ammo in the trash can. 1. the unsubscribe link (where available) in one of our messages. Pull the bullets, dump the powder and either burn the cases, drip oil down into them, or feed them into something to shoot like blanks to get rid of the primers. The lead found in many bullets should not be stuck in the ground where it can leach into the local water supply. Disposal. (In a safe, bedroom, garage, etc.) This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Use 911 only for emergencies!). You might find yourself thinking about how you have fired old ammo in the past and had no problem with it. Here are the safest options: The easiest way to get rid of unwanted ammo is to call the police or your local sheriffs office. Gun store personnel are well-versed in handling ammunition and many of them will accept bad ammunition for safe disposal. If they do, we have a few safe and legal options for ditching those rounds you just dont want to risk shooting. Maybe you found an old ammo can full of rounds in the back of your grandfathers closet. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Regardless of how you came into the possession of old ammunition, this is a question that you need to know the answer to. Most shooting ranges will have containers for bad rounds of ammunition. First, a cartridge does not cease working because you decide you no longer want it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro. Although many stores indicate all sales are final no federal law prohibits ammunition return. According to SAAMI, these sources can provide you the means to dispose of ammunition in compliance with local, state, and federal law. Most private gun clubs have boxes of obsolete ammo that they keep just for folks to poke through and shoot up. Recycle your solar panels with a retailer or take to a OC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. I have a box of 30/30 winchester that is valued at $125.00 for the box of 20. . EverydayCarryConcealed.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. If you dont mind traveling to another city, check the counties around you to see if theyre hosting a hazardous waste collection event soon. There is a limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds of waste per vehicle. There are also some other key signs that you need to watch out for if you want to avoid dangerous issues with old ammo. Knowing what you have and what to do with those firearms is important. If youve found this content helpful, please share with your social networks or leave a comment. Make sure to call the local number for the police station to ask if they're accepting ammunition. If you have old, compromised, or otherwise unusable ammo you need to get rid of, it's best to stick to the previously mentioned methods of safe ammo disposal. When I took a look at the old ammo, condition was still visibly good. A collaborative effort provided by:County . If you recycle bullets yourself, use the gunpowder to fertilize your plants. They'll likely want to make a record of the transaction to ensure a suitable paper trail showing you properly disposed of the ammunition. In general, ammo is safe for use for 10 years after its manufacturing date, but it could stay safe for longer if you store it in a cool, dry place. This is another great option for . Medications and sharps should be handled carefully. Make sure you call ahead first. So weve established that old ammo can possibly explode if it has begun to degrade and so we should make sure it is safe before thinking about using it. However, storing your ammunition properly will extend the life of your cartridges and prevent scenarios that require your ammunition disposal. Evans Gunsmithing Shooters World. Copyright 2023 Earth Media Partners. Northridge, CA 91325 EDCO Recycling & Transfer Center will be closed 04/08/2023. Since the smokeless powder isn't explosive, it will slowly burn down the trail you have created. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Never throw ammo in the garbage or bury it, even if you've soaked it in water or oil. If you find yourself in possession of unwanted firearms, you can surrender it to the Sheriff's office by following the steps below. The SJSU Center for Development of Recycling works in association with the counties of Santa Clara and San Mateo - Terms of Use. https://www.realtree.com/brow-tines-and-backstrap/is-it-safe-to-hunt-with-old-ammo#:~:text=Generally%2C%20yes.,old%20ammo%20with%20no%20problems. California Gun Services helps local Orange County Citizens safely remove your unwanted guns and ammunition. Many of my friends and family are former or active duty military, and I have consulted with them on many of the topics I cover in this blog over the years. Visit RecycleBC.ca/Hazardous to learn more and access the online depot Bag it or wrap the mixture and place in the trash. I was just going to bury them out on the back pasture. You never want to gamble with your own safety. Don't dump it for nothing before checking it out! Therefore, here are the top 3 ways people dispose of ammo that are not safe. Instead, people interested in surrendering their weapons are asked to call the OPP non-emergency. Proper discarding of old, damaged, or dangerous rounds is just one more way for us to be good representatives of the shooting sports. They will let you know how to proceed. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Shotgun shells just cut the plastic wad with a knife, dump the powder in the trash and throw the other components in the trash. This is mostly because there are so many variables that can degrade cartridge integrity, the most common being exposure to moisture, heat, and sunlight. Through an FFL01. Therefore, you can dispose of ammunition at these locations. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. If your household relies on well water, you may inadvertently contaminate your drinking water. City of Gilroy Police Department . A few methods are available for safely and appropriately disposing of old or unwanted ammo. 358 S Tustin St. Orange, CA 92866. Recycle Stuff has the solutions to your recycling needs. Hazardous materials dumped on the ground or into the gutter can contaminate soil and the underground water supply. Contact the station in advance and let them know you plan to turn over ammunition. Its the bullet itself thats problematic. Since firearms last more than a lifetime, families often have small and large collections of guns in their home. The primer is located on the bottom of the casing, the gunpowder is inside the casing, and the bullet is sticking out the other end of the casing. Whether you're completely new to gun ownership and shooting or a seasoned pro, at some point you'll likely encounter ammunition that can't be shot. Ammunition can be placed in a box or specific ammunition can. Burying ammo can lead to problems in the water and soil. Most ammunition is fairly inexpensive, and there's no point in risking injury to shoot some ammo "just in case" it's still good. The most feasible ways to disposing of unwanted ammunition is to contact the police or your local sheriff's office. Message frequency varies. If you have a large amount of ammunition, however, they may not. In general, compressed gas cylinders are exempt from California regulation when they are empty. This article was co-authored by Bryan Villella and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. When youre selling or giving away an item, always meet the person in public to make the exchange safer. I have been told that may not be possible. Suffice it to say, you should NOT dispose of ammunition by burying it. Four 20 GA shot shells in the pocket went through the wash. i have a 20ga bt with a rifled slug barrel, so i wont use them anyway. Small changes by thousands of individuals will have a lasting, positive impact. While this is certainly possible, theres no guarantee. When it comes to hand loaded rounds, you can usually tell when something is off. This recommendation is pretty conservative when it comes to ammo, but companies want to limit liability and keep customers safe. The oil will get in and destroy the powder . We will routinely monitor external sites linked from our pages. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 11,234 times. Only use a little at one time, and then using your fuse, light up the powder. Recycling They may have a way of shipping ammo back to the manufacturer for disposal or access to a service that disposes ammo. So theoretically you could sell half this month, wait 30 days, and sell the rest. Contacting your local law enforcement office or fire department is another way to dispose of unwanted ammunition. Its okay to throw away brass casings from spent bullets after youve fired them. Whenever you see any green corrosion on ammo that you own, you need to safely dispose of it. Please let me know if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember something in the law regarding manufacturing reloaded ammo "with the. As gun owners, we want to be sure we act responsibly, especially when it comes to disposing of our unwanted ammunition. An easy option is to call your local police or sheriff's department via their non-emergency line and let them know you have ammunition you'd like to get rid of. Disassemble And Reuse Depending on the state of your purported defective ammunition, some of the components may be recoverable. Find a Location to Recycle or Dispose of Safely. 1 Call your local police department. Welcome to the OC Recycle Guide. Need to get rid of it but not sure where it goes? However, not everything you hear on the internet is true, especially when it comes to ammo and firearms. Whether they work or not, a collector might be willing to take them off your hands. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}. This leads to the question, How do I safely dispose of old ammo. Whether they choose to shoot the ammunition, decommission it themselves, or trash it becomes their responsibility. Even if the ammo is bad, there could be some serviceable pieces for you to use to reduce waste. Bryan has nine years of professional experience and is an NRA and Florida State Certified K Instructor. You must be at least . OC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers, California Department of Toxic Substance Control (CDTSC). You should never under any circumstances fire any ammunition that has green corrosion present on its casing. 1-800-533-8414. info.recyclestuff@gmail.com. If you are a gun owner, you will eventually come across cartridges you dont want to risk shooting. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Appointments can be made by calling 530-583-7800. Make a Trail. It is not a good idea to just show up with your old ammo, however. Penalty is 16 months in prison and/or up to $10,000 fine. However, I think it would also be prudent to discuss the wrong way to decommission cartridges. They work with local police agencies and ammunition recycling companies to pick up these old ammunition rounds. You can simply toss the gunpowder in your houseplants or your backyard garden. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. This is called a bullet setback. While relatively rare, these imperfections can be seriously dangerous. Let your fellow shooters know share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. Take the powder you wish to dispose of and pour it in a straight line on your sidewalk. No matter how harmless you think you look, you never want to take the chance that someone misunderstands your purpose for being there with a weapon. Call the non-emergency number of the police to let them know you need to dispose of ammunition. These inexpensive tools effortlessly disassemble a cartridge. If you find yourself with some corroded or unusable ammunition, there are a number of options available to you. I do not own a 12 gauge. The next few guns. Before you shoot any ammo that you know is old and has been stored for a long time, you need to carefully look at each and every round. There are also hazardous waste centers that take bad ammo for safe disposal. However, in many instances, as long as the ammunition isn't exposed to high heat or excessive moisture, it could last for years or even decades past the published expiration date. Most local waste management facilities don't accept ammunition. Another option that we recommend when you are looking to safely dispose of old ammo is to get ahold of your local shooting range. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Usually defects or structural compromises of a cartridge render it unserviceable. OC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers can accept road flares.OPTIONS:Call your local police station or sheriff department for ammunition or gun take back days. Oftentimes the hazmat offices are only open on select days. Link Disclaimer: Information and web links that take the user away from County sponsored web pages to external web sites or non-San Jose State University (SJSU) websites, including pages returned from SJSU or County Web search engines are provided as a courtesy. Ammunition/explosives, PCBs, medical waste (other than sharps and medications), electronic waste and . The water or oil may not make it into the cartridge, or the gunpowder could dry out, making the cartridge dangerous once again if thrown into the trash. We offer the service on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. But, if this sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend you check out my article on reloading because youre a prime candidate for making your own ammunition. It may only take a few days for the powder and primer to dry out before the cartridge is good as new and just as dangerous. 2. Always make sure you have your driver's license or some form of identification with you. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If your local hazardous waste facility doesnt work, the next place to check is local gun ranges. If you go to the range, you might take the ammo with you on your next visit to see if theyll accept it. Before we jump to methods of recycling, lets touch on the components that make up a piece of ammunition, also known as a cartridge. These torch cuts are acceptable alternatives to shredding. Never bury ammo because the metal is hazardous. We'll even tell you what not to do with it so you can be as safe as possible. If you are like me, you are probably wanting to know more about why it is the case that ammo can become unsafe to use and what the signs are that it is degrading. You can reuse the projectile and the case, although you might need to clean them up a bit. I hope what I share with you helps. For tips on disposal/recycling of flares, visit hereor the California Department of Toxic Substance Control (CDTSC) at (800) 728-6942.Contact your local authorities to inquire about ammunition, explosives, or fireworks:Orange County Police Departments (Cities)Orange County Sheriff Department (Unincorporated areas) or call the Sheriff's Hazardous Device Section(714) 538-2694.Orange County Fire Authority (Fireworks disposal)TIP:Always contact your source for proper guidelines on transporting, packaging or delivering sensitive items for recycling or disposal. It makes great fertilizer. When that happens, you can recycle your old shoesthe textile components of your old footwear can be used to make something else, even a new pair of sneakers in some cases. And while that's not impossible, it's also possible the other materials could have a toxic impact to your yard. Corrosion is an indication that moisture has contaminated the round. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Or maybe you have some old hunting ammo that shows some signs of corrosion. A few years back my Grandfather passed and I was bequeathed his firearms and ammo (Mostly shotshells and .22 LR). Dont call 911; call their local number and ask if theyll take ammunition. To be safe, never use a tool that's not intended for bullets to try this. Some alarms and detectors contain radioactive materials requiring proper disposal. Seriously, as long as it was kept dry, it should still fire. Ammunition can be surprisingly resilient. Ultimately, disposing or recycling ammunition isnt a big deal. It's one of the main tasks these businesses deal with regularly. This will prolong its shelf life even more. To register for an appointment call the City's hazardous waste contractor (Clean Harbors) at (800) 433-5060 or send an email request to VSQG@cleanharbors.com . Thank you Bob. The lead EOD determine the emergency level one response, which means. Before making your appointment, please confirm that your items are . Many of the disposal suggestions youll find online are actually dangerous, illegal, or both. 2023 Copyright - The Survival Journal - All Rights Reserved, Turn the Ammo Over to Your Local Police Department, Take the Ammo to a Hazardous Waste Drop-off Center, B.O.B Mastery: The Ultimate Bug-Out Bag Guide, Bushcraft Survival Skills To Survive In The Wilderness, Survival Hacks: Over 100 Hacks Using Simple Household Items, Military Survival Guide: 8 Skills From Navy Seals, Special Forces, and Elite Military Units, Quicksand Survivsal Guide: How to survive falling in Quicksand, Holiday Survival Guide: How To Survive The Holidays, Winter is Coming. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If you'd like to learn more about guns, check out our in-depth interview with Bryan Villella. * Please note that some external links provide information that is not managed nor updated by OC Waste & Recycling. Copyright 2022 Ammunition Depot, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Unleashing the Firepower of John Wick 4: The Top Featured Guns and Ammo, Florida Becomes the 26th State to Adopt Constitutional Carry, Gear Review: Rattlesnake Tactical Medium Range Bag, How to Transfer Ownership of a Gun: State by State, Best of the Best, September 2022 Gun Giveaway (CONTEST ENDED). Ever inherited an old batch of ammunition from a friend? Most shooting ranges will have containers for bad rounds of ammunition. Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre (6711-154 Street) and North Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre (9770-192 Street) Disposal Days is back! Then it could be buried (if city/county ordinance did not prevent) , never to be dealt with again. This puts sanitary service personnel at risk. E-bike batteries can be disposed of at OC's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers. It's much better to inadvertently dispose of good ammo than to try and shoot bad ammo. Manufactured Round with No Primer. By entering your phone number and submitting this form, Try posting your ammo on a local buy-sell-trade group. First, dont bury ammunition as a way to dispose of it. Thank you-. (707) 259-8608 or 1-800-984-9661 Friday & Saturday 9am - 4pm Households: No appointment required, drop-off free of charge. Police warn gun owners not to bring their firearms or ammunition directly to a police facility. Copyright Ammotogo.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. Businesses may also dispose of hazardous materials on the third Friday of each month for a fee and with appointments. Road flares may be disposed of as hazardous waste. If a round is cracked or dented, it isnt safe to shoot. Your opinion please. Shell casings may be reused to make more bullets, or the metal could be melted down and used for something else. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Surrender them to your local police station. Power tool batteries should be disposed of at HHWCCs. CA 95192-0204. So what are you supposed to do with unwanted ammunition? Brian formerly managed the Earth911 Recycling Search and shared green living tips and tricks on Earth911s Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter accounts. For a list of items, check here. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Understand that the procedures involved vary by department and locale, so check your local department's website to see if any specifics are listed and call before you take any action if instructions aren't available online. Factory ammo is also made to very high standards and exacting specifications that will help to ensure that it maintains a shelf life that lasts for many years.