Regulatory Decision 053: Storing and treating waste fire extinguishers for recovery
This Regulatory Decision (RD) is valid until 31 July 2025 by which time it will be reviewed. You should check back at that time to ensure the RD is still valid.
NRW can withdraw or amend this RD before the review date if we consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RD relates to have not changed.
Regulatory Decision
This RD only applies to fire extinguishers under European Waste Catalogue code 16 05 05.
Conditions you must comply with
Treatment
You must only treat:
- fire extinguishers that do not contain halons
- up to 1,000 fire extinguishers in any one month
- fire extinguishers by discharging the contents and dismantling the cylinders to recover parts under a permit or exemption
- waste fire extinguishers on an impermeable surface with sealed drainage
Storage
You must:
- only store up to 4,000 waste fire extinguishers at any one time
- only store waste fire extinguishers for up to 12 months
- store the waste fire extinguishers in a secure place
- store the waste fire extinguishers on an impermeable surface with sealed drainage
- separate the different types of powder you remove from a fire extinguisher and keep them dry
Discharging contents
You must discharge water and foam to either a:
- foul sewer under a trade effluent discharge consent
- sealed container for disposal or recovery at an authorised waste treatment facility
You must not discharge foam or water fire extinguishers that contain perfluorooctanoic acid or fluorosurfactants to foul sewer, the contents of these fire extinguishers must be disposed of in accordance with the POPs regulations. If you are unsure, check the material safety data sheet before discharging.
You must:
- empty powder into suitable sealed containers
- discharge carbon dioxide extinguishers to air unless you can capture and reuse the contents
Impermeable surface with sealed drainage
An impermeable surface is a surface or pavement that is constructed and maintained to prevent transmission of liquids beyond the pavement surface.
A sealed drainage system has impermeable components which do not leak. It ensures that:
- no liquid will run off the surface except through the system
- all liquids entering the system are collected in a sealed sump except where they may be lawfully discharged to foul sewer
Enforcement
This RD does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when you are storing and treating waste fire extinguishers for recovery.
However, NRW will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with the need for an environmental permit if you meet the requirements in this RD.
In addition your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:
- cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
- cause a nuisance through noise or odours
- adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest