Guidance

Storing and treating waste fire extinguishers: RPS 132

Environment Agency regulatory position on when you can store and treat waste fire extinguishers before metal recovery.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 24 January 2013
• Last updated: 13 March 2024
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  1. 13 March 2024

     The RPS has been updated to the latest version of the template. We have updated the guidance on the amount of time allowed to store fire extinguishers before treatment, it has been reduced from 12 to 3 months. Storage must be secure and under cover. Any foams containing persistent organic pollutants must be sent for destruction by high temperate incineration and must not be discharged to sewer. Any site using this RPS must email the Environment Agency and must apply for an environmental permit by September 2024. This RPS will be withdrawn in September 2025.

  2. 29 May 2019

     We have taken out using end of life fire extinguishers in training and incorporated this in a new RPS - Using waste fire extinguishers for training: RPS 221.

  3. 24 January 2013

     First published.

This publication was withdrawn on 24 November 2025

This regulatory position statement has been withdrawn because an environmental permit provides more appropriate environmental protection.

Check the guidance on waste: environmental permits.

Applies to England

Documents

Storing and treating waste fire extinguishers: RPS 132

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This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have or comply with an environmental permit for a waste operation when you store and treat waste fire extinguishers before recovery.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with this legal requirement if you meet the requirements in the RPS.  

The regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.