BRITT — City officials in Britt are warning residents to stop throwing live ammunition into trash or recycling bins after bullets were reportedly found during local waste collection.
The City of Britt said it was notified by Absolute Waste that live bullets had been found in trash bins. Officials said residents should never place live ammunition in garbage or recycling containers.
“We ask that these residents PLEASE stop doing this,” the city said in its warning. “You should never throw live ammunition in a trash bin or recycling bin.”
The warning is not just about improper disposal. Live ammunition can create serious risks for waste collection workers, transfer station employees and anyone handling compacted trash. Ammunition that is crushed, heated or mishandled can potentially discharge or create dangerous fragments.
City officials also noted the environmental danger. Ammunition can contain heavy metals, including lead, and other materials that should not be sent into ordinary trash or recycling streams.
The problem is especially concerning for workers who may be operating garbage trucks, compactors or other equipment without knowing live ammunition has been dumped into the waste system. Even if ammunition does not fire like it would from a gun, it can still pose a hazard when subjected to pressure, impact or heat.
Residents who find old, unwanted or damaged ammunition should not place it in household garbage or recycling. Instead, they should contact local law enforcement, their waste hauler or city officials for guidance on safe disposal options.
The city’s warning is also a reminder that recycling bins are not a catch-all. Hazardous materials, ammunition, batteries, chemicals, electronics and other unsafe items can endanger workers, damage equipment and contaminate recyclable materials.
Britt officials thanked residents for taking the warning seriously and urged anyone with live ammunition to dispose of it properly rather than putting workers and the public at risk.