\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. How to Safely Dispose of or Recycle Old or Unwanted Ammo Ever inherited an old batch of ammunition from a friend? How to search for information on a missing person. If youve got a bad set of ammunition, you should reach out to the seller directly. WebThe National Center for Unwanted Firearms safely disposes or repurposes unwanted firearms through our secure facility in Montana. However, I think it would also be prudent to discuss the wrong way to decommission cartridges. The information below identifies firearm(s) confiscated by a Michigan law enforcement agency and turned over to the Michigan State Police (MSP) pursuant to MCL 28.434 and MCL 750.239. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. This is where you can take things like old batteries, used motor oil, and other household chemicals that are unsafe for the normal trash. No matter what the correct procedure actually is, it should probably go without sayingthatdisposing of ammo improperly can be dangerous. Additionally, problems with factory ammunition may indicate a larger problem with the entire batch produced. For help if someone accidentally swallows something that may be toxic, contact the Michigan Poison Center at 800-222-1222 or call your local emergency responder phone number for help. Please note that many records are available that do not require a formal FOIA request. There are also some other key signs that you need to watch out for if you want to avoid dangerous issues with old ammo. Drop off ammo to a hazardous waste facility or event. Safe and responsible ammo disposal is a big part of this. WebDisposing of ammunition in your regular trash poses a grave danger to solid waste handlers. Call first for either of them. The Best .22 LR Handguns for Concealed Carry. *cancelation policy: closed during holidays and inclement weather. Common options for donating include offering paints, stains, cleansers, electronics, etc. Most shooting ranges will have containers for bad rounds of ammunition. Contact your local, non-emergency police department for information on proper disposal of ammunition. However you decide to get rid of the ammo you cant use, be smart about it, and if you have any doubts, be sure to check your local and state laws. You should never under any circumstances fire any ammunition that has green corrosion present on its casing. With this said, some of the other warning signs that old ammo has degraded include: So we have established that there are some signs that show that old ammo has become unfit for use. Contact your community police department to see if they will accept ammunition. (833) GIV-GUNS (Toll Free) / (833) 448-4867. If not, contact law enforcement and describe exactly what you have, where, how many, etc. Call first for either of them. [Part 2]. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Counties/MunicipalitiesShare Your Recycling Data to Help Expand Recycling, HHW and Very Small Quantity Generators Hazardous Waste Collector Resources, Promote your Recycling or Hazardous Waste Collection. Donations - Use items that can still be used or donate them to someone you know will use them properly and lawfully. Oregons Metro government says its household hazardous waste facilities will accept ammunition under .50 caliber. Below are 6 options to dispose of unwanted or unserviceable ammo. I am a concealed permit holder (for over a decade), a lifetime NRA member, certified firearms instructor, and a firearm enthusiast. In addition to your ownership claim, you must be authorized to possess firearms. Accepts ammunition and unneeded medication. Oakland County Planning Services maintains the county's Solid Waste Plan, administers a household hazardous waste program, and provides recycling and disposal information to residents. According to takethegun.com the window for returning ammo to the seller varies between 0 and 60 days. Similar to my little box of failures, a lot of shooting ranges have a bucket somewhere in the corner for shooters to dump their stray dud rounds. They are various types and I don't shoot. Thursdays: 7:00 9:00am This is no surprise because the truth is that you can often use old ammo without any issue. If youre feeling ambitious, you can spend a few bucks for a bullet puller. First, a cartridge does not cease working because you decide you no longer want it. Treat any weapon you may come across as if it is loaded.When handling a weapon at home, always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Always keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard if you are not intending to fire the weapon.When storing a weapon in your home, you should keep it unloaded. More items The Survival Journal is the premier survival and preparedness newsletter. You could also donate guns to a local gunsmith to use for training purposes. There are a lot of reasons why you might find yourself in the possession of old ammunition. This will prolong its shelf life even more. WebPayment is required at the time of disposal by VISA, MasterCard or check (checks can be written out to KCHCS or Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services). All Rights Reserved. As long as the ammo still looks clean, smooth, and lacking the tell-tale signs of corrosion, then it should be ok for you to use. By far, my favorite way to dispose of ammo is by decommissioning cartridges myself. Ammunition This article was co-authored by Bryan Villella and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Firearms & Ammunition Collection - East Lansing, Michigan WebRecycling programs in Oakland County are managed by the local communities. I would pull the bullets on the 5.56 and deprime them and use the brass or give it to someone the reloads. However, if you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable around ammunition, I do not recommend this method. Ask about a pickup to your area for multiple unwanted firearms. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Modern ammunition can besurprisingly resilient. If you'd like to learn more about guns, check out our in-depth interview with Bryan Villella. Forfeited Weapons Unit Legal and Financial Webinars for Small Businesses, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) - Contractors, Current and Future Land Use Maps and Statistics, Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County(RRRASOC), SoutheasternOaklandCountyResourceRecoveryAuthority (SOCRRA). Help protect the environment by getting rid of your ammo the proper way. I came across about 4 dozen bullets in an old trunk that belonged to my grandfather. Regardless of how you came into the possession of old ammunition, this is a question that you need to know the answer to. To dispose of firearms, you may contact the non-emergency police at (210) 207-7273 to request an officer out to pick them up and dispose of them properly. Wash them out to rid the casing of any lingering gunpowder and then find a recycling center that accepts scrap metal, particularly brass shell casings. WebThe NoHaz Consortium is a group of Oakland County communities that have come together to provide residents with a safe, reliable and environmentally-responsible way to dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW). This will cover all extra manpower and equipment costs that are incurred by the Department of Public Works. But what if you dont have a handy reject ammo disposal receptacle where you shoot? Check out this EGLE video to learn what is a hazardous waste under Michigan's environmental regulations. 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. Wood Preservatives For more information on household hazardous wastes and collection programs: This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Lansing, MI 48913 The gunpowder inside the bullet is safe to bury. 517-449-5118 Dont dump the live cartridges onto the lanes. Its time to call in a professional who can safely dispose of your ammo. If youre not dealing with a large quantity of unusable ammo, you might check in with your local indoor shooting range. Alternatively, burying ammo could impact the local wildlife by poisoning drinking water or seeping into the soil and absorbed by local plant life. When you safely dispose of ammo the right way, you will get the satisfaction of knowing you have acted responsibly as a firearms user. Residential use only; business waste is NOT accepted. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. 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. Your geographical location also has an effect on what options you have. Bullets may accidentally go off under pressure or if they get too hot. This is another great option for safely and responsibly getting rid of that old ammo that is no longer safe for use. Old ammunition can explode and should always be treated with great care if it shows any signs of degradation. DHHS has toxicologists on hand to answer questions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides all persons (except persons incarcerated in correctional facilities) with access to public records of public bodies. Charities like Support Our Troops, Americas Military Charity, accept donated firearms and ammunition. Never pour HHW into a storm drain or down a drain in your home. To learn more about HHW hazards and how to find drop-off locations that divert these materials from landfill disposal, click on the pictures for the materials listed below. We've got several options for disposing your cartridges, whether they're corroded, a dud, or just no longer useful to you. What you need to understand is how to read the signs that the ammo has deteriorated and is no longer safe to use. Contacting your local law enforcement office or fire department is another way to dispose of unwanted ammunition. He leads certified training courses necessary to get licensed through the state to work in the private security field. Located within the City of Kentwood Public Works Complex. This question seems to come up occasionally among shooters, and there doesnt appear to be any real consensus forthe answer. Fort Harrison, MT 59636 In addition to the DPW Administrative Office, both t, Paper, Paperboard, Magazines, and Cardboard, Plastic Bags (shopping, newspaper, produce, food storage, product over-wrap, etc. Crime Tip Lines - Information for reporting a crime. should you dispose of old ammunition Stockpiling old ammo that is damaged and corroded is simply not something that you want to do. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Dispose-of-Old-Ammo-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"