The Postal Service is reminding employees that fire extinguishers are considered hazardous waste and should never be thrown in the trash.
Depending on their age or condition, they should be reused, refilled, recycled or exchanged.
Several USPS sites have a service contract, established by the USPS Facility Services Category Management Center, for taking care of fire extinguishers. For these sites, the supplier manages preventive maintenance and inspections without the site’s involvement.
Sites without a contract should contact their local fire department for local distributors that offer servicing options. These might include refilling, recharging, recycling or exchanging the fire extinguishers.
When no servicing or recycling options are available, used, expired or damaged fire extinguishers must be disposed of as regulated waste. Disposal services are available in eBuyPlus from Safety-Kleen. Records of fire extinguisher pickup and disposal must be kept.
The Waste Management and Recycling Disposal page on Blue has more information.
Employees with questions can contact the environmental specialist for their location.
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