Disposal of my fire extinguisher

Disposal of my fire extinguisher

Q. How should I properly dispose of my fire extinguisher? 

A. The proper way of disposal is to bring it to an authorised fire extinguisher servicing workshop and pay them to dispose it for you. 


A fire extinguisher is a pressured device. For reference: HDB water is about 1.2 - 2 Bars, the working pressure of a fire extinguisher is approximately 14 Bars. If you were to throw it in the collection bin, the bottle will explode when it's incinerated. The local rag and tag man also known as "karang guni" are banned from collecting this. They will also inform you that they are not allowed to collect pressurized cylinders. 


Q. Why do I have to pay to dispose of my extinguisher? It's so heavy, surely it must be worth something. 

A. Yes, it is worth something, but probably much lesser than you can imagine.


The simplified disposal process is as such: 

Step 1: Depressurise the extinguisher. About two hours. 

Step 2: Empty the powder. Less than 2 minutes with the proper equipment. 

Step 3: Wash the cylinder. Less than 2 minute. 

Step 4: Disposing the dirty water. Less than 1 minute.  

Step 5: Separating plastic from metal. Less than 10 minutes. 

Step 6: Sell the metal as scrap. 

Step 7: Pay for disposal of the powder to an NEA authorised disposing company. 

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