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If you’re a recreational shooter, gun range, or law enforcement agency looking for the best way to recycle scrap ammo, you’re not alone. Recycling scrap ammunition is a crucial component of the firearm industry, requiring safe, environmentally friendly, and ethical practices. Today, let us share with you an easy way to recycle scrap ammo!

What Does “Scrap Ammo” Include?

Defining scrap ammo depends on who you ask. Often, it refers to spent casings, dud rounds (unfired), and stripped ammo components.

Today, we are focusing solely on recyclable components, not live ammo disposal. We are referring to brass shells, brass and chrome-plated shells, as well as mixed brass and lead casings. 

Why Recycle Scrap Ammo?

While we could write you a novel on the benefits of recycling scrap ammo, let us summarize it down into three critical points.

First, when you recycle scrap ammo, you increase the safety of your facility or hobby. This helps prevent the accumulation of hazardous components and allows for safe disposal for everyone involved.

Second, recycling scrap ammo is better for the environment. Not only are you reducing metal waste (a finite resource), but you are also preventing landfill accumulation and limiting heavy metal pollution.

Finally, there are both personal and community-level economic benefits when you recycle scrap ammo. Not only can you take advantage of the substantial scrap value that brass, copper, and lead have, putting extra cash in your pocket, but you also create a circular economy that generates more jobs and money in your local economy.

Whether you are a law enforcement agency seeking to reduce your environmental impact, a gun range looking to earn money from scrap metal, or an individual wanting to keep your hobby safe and clean, recycling scrap ammo is beneficial.

How to Prepare Scrap Ammo for Recycling

Recycling scrap ammo is relatively simple, and once you incorporate it into your shooting routine, it becomes easy to maximize profits and minimize effort. Here is how you prepare to recycle scrap ammo:

Step 1: Take out duds.

Duds are not recyclable with regular scrap ammo. Instead, they must be managed per your facility’s safety protocols. If you are a civilian recreational shooter with duds, contact your local law enforcement agency or a nearby shooting range for recommendations. Please remember to handle with extreme caution and care.

Step 2: Separate materials.

Separate your shell casings from other materials, such as other metals, plastics, or debris.

Step 3: Remove gunpowder.

Recycling centers prioritize the safety of their staff and will not accept casings with visible gunpowder. Therefore, you will want to remove the gunpowder from the casings prior to recycling.

Step 4: Collect and store.

Store your casings in clean, dry containers, organized by metal type—for example, one container for brass and one for mixed metals. Once your containers are full, you can take them in for recycling.

Why Choose Community Recycling?

This is Texas – we are a state that knows our guns. At Community Recycling, we are dedicated to helping our local law enforcement, gun ranges, and recreational shooters safely dispose of their scrap ammo while putting money back in their pockets. We can accept brass shells, brass and chrome-plated shells, as well as mixed brass and lead casings. If you are ready to start recycling, give us a call today, and we’ll be happy to walk you through the steps.