It’s that time of year when ammunition and spent bullet casings are seen more commonly. With hunting season in full swing across Ontario, more bullets and bullet casings are found scattered across the ground and in blue boxes. Neither of these locations are the right place for ammunition. This poses the question: where should these items go?
Ammunition cannot be recycled. This is because ammunition falls into the category of explosives, which is dangerous to handle and process at the Material Recovery Facility. Ammunition should be taken to your local police station for safe disposal.
Shells are covered in plastic and metals (two items that are commonly associated with recycling), they are not to be reused for new products. This is because of the gunpowder stored within the case. At Quinte Waste Solutions, we can not process these items at the Waste Management Facility. Any item that falls into the category of explosives is not safe for our workers to be sorting or handling and cannot be processed for new recycled materials.
Empty shell casings, on the other hand, are to be thrown in the garbage. Due to the nature of the casing and combination of the sealed plastic and metal, they cannot be separated by manufacturers. Place the empty casing in your trash bag.
This has been your hunting season reminder that empty shells should be taken to the local police station for safe disposal. Visit the nearest police station to you for safe ammunition disposal.
OPP Quinte West Detachment
3 Dixon Drive, Trenton
Stirling-Rawdon Police Service
2529 Stirling Marmora Rd, Marmora
Belleville Police Service
93 Dundas St E, Belleville
