How to Safely Dispose of Unwanted or Unusable Ammunition

What’s An Ammunition?

Are you looking to dispose of some unwanted ammunition? First, let’s understand the components of it. According to Britannica, ammunition (or ammo) includes the projectiles and propelling charges used in small arms, artillery, and other guns. Essentially, any complete cartridge or its components constitute ammunition.

A loaded cartridge consists of a bullet (projectile), casing, gunpowder, and a primer. The bullet is typically made of lead, but other metals can be used as well. The casing is generally made from brass, although steel can also be used.

Can Ammunition Be Recycled?

It depends. In most cases, unused ammunition can potentially be recycled, but the facilities to do so are limited. There are a few devices that can disassemble cartridges into their component parts for recycling. Each metal can then be recycled, and the gunpowder can be reused. 

For used ammunition, only the brass casing is left, which is recyclable. These casings are often reused to manufacture new ammunition and can be recycled multiple times.

How to GET RID of Unwanted or Unusable Ammunition?

If you have unwanted, old, corroded, or unusable small gun ammunition, several legal options are available. You can bring it to your local police station, city or county hazardous waste facilities, or sometimes even to a shooting range.

But what if you have a large amount of ammunition? Transporting large quantities is difficult, and disposal is often highly regulated by the states.

Fortunately, we can help! We offer a simple consumption program for any quantities of small arms ammunition. Just give us a call or send us a message.

Environmentally Friendly Disposal of Ammunition

We all want to be responsible towards the environment. Ammunition contains hazardous components that can damage the environment.

Hazardous heavy metals are commonly present in the bullet core and primers of small arms cartridges. Additionally, sealants, paints, and waterproofing materials can contain hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone-depleting chemicals that can vaporize into the air.

If you’re looking for ways to safely and cleanly dispose of your ammunition, look no further! We provide environmentally friendly solutions for the disposal of small arms ammunition.

The ammunition you dispose of through us is safely broken down into components for reuse, complying with federal regulations.

We ensure that each batch of ammo processed through us leaves no environmental trace, as we aim to maintain a healthy and vibrant planet.

We accept all types of small arms ammunition, but each situation is unique, and we can offer tailored solutions to meet your needs.

Contact us to learn how we can assist you.

Types of Ammunition We Do Not Accept:

• Depleted uranium rounds

How NOT to Dispose of Your Ammunition

Lastly, please do NOT try to dispose of your ammunition yourself.

Do NOT bury it. Some parts of cartridges are harmful to the environment. The lead found in many bullets can penetrate the ground and potentially contaminate the local water supply.

Do NOT throw ammunition away in the trash. 

In addition, some ‘experts’ might advise soaking your ammunition in water or oil before disposal, assuming this will ruin the gunpowder and prevent ignition. However, there’s no guarantee this will work. The water or oil may not penetrate the cartridge at all, or the gunpowder could dry out, making the cartridge dangerous once again if thrown into the trash.

And finally, want to safely dispose of your small arms ammunition? Call us now!