Kathleen wrote:
>
> Pete C. wrote:
>
> > Kathleen wrote:
> >
> >>ChattyCathy wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>http://www.recfoodcooking.com
> >>>
> >>>Thanks go to Andy for this one.
> >>
> >>I recently cleaned out the storage locker where my flyball club stored
> >>their equipment. Among the contents were two good-sized fire
> >>extinguishers, the sort that are rated for use on liquids, electrical
> >>and trash fires. All of our vehicles already have fire extinguishers,
> >>the house is equipped with smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
> >>and I have easy access to baking soda and water in the kitchen, so I
> >>wasn't quite sure what to do with the things. The local children's
> >>charity wouldn't take them as donations - said they'd had one blow up in
> >>one of their trucks once, and come to think of it, they were at least
> >>three years old so I wasn't positive they'd even work.
> >>
> >>So I decided to test one of them. Gave it to my son and his friends.
> >>There's nothing like hands-on experience for keeping you calm in a
> >>crisis, and I figured if one of them was functional, the other would be
> >>good to keep in the garage. They had a great time taking turns blasting
> >>powder all over the back yard (which I made them hose down afterwards),
> >>and they all know exactly how to operate a fire extinguisher now. Its
> >>twin is outside in the garage and when I've got a spare minute I'll take
> >>the empty to the fire station down the road and find out if it's
> >>re-fillable, and if not, what to do with it.
> >
> >
> > The larger ones are serviceable / refillable, though if it's old enough
> > to require hydro testing it may not be cost effective.
> >
> > For disposal, just discharge the contents (as you did in the back yard),
> > and then when no pressure remains unscrew the handle valve assembly and
> > dispose of in your regular garbage.
>
> Geeze, that seems like a real shame. I mean, it's a fairly hefty chunk
> of metal. Even if I can't get it re-filled or whatever, maybe they'll
> know if I can put it in the recycle bin.

Realize that much of your garbage gets recycled in a growing number of
areas even if you do not have recycling bins. It has been found to be
more efficient and economical to sort the garbage at the central
collection point than at the source.