Can You Flush Gunpowder Down The Toilet? (Find Out Now!)

Kerry Souder
by Kerry Souder

Though many gunpowder providers claim it’s guaranteed to last a lifetime, it still has an expiration date. Old gunpowder can take up space on your property and be a potential hazard if it gets in the wrong hands. That’s why it’s important to know how to dispose of it safely.

Many people’s first move is to flush their gunpowder down the toilet to ensure it is fully neutralized before getting rid of it. But the question is, should you?

Technically, you can flush gunpowder down the toilet in very small amounts, but you probably shouldn’t. While a tiny bit of gunpowder spillage is harmless for your plumbing system and the environment, anything even nearing a pound can contaminate residential water sources and become a big problem for sea life and wildlife, too.

Getting rid of gunpowder is a delicate process, and it’s crucial to know what you’re doing before you start the process. That’s why we’re here!

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What is Gunpowder?

Gunpowder is the earliest known chemical explosive made from saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal. It is mostly used today for the fuses in fireworks, quarry blasting, grenades, rockets, guns, and more. There are two types of gunpowder: smokeless and black. We’ll go over each of them below.

Flushing Gunpowder Down the Toilet

If you’re going to flush gunpowder, you should only flush a very small amount of spillage; it should not be your main way to dispose of large amounts of gunpowder. After flushing a small amount down the toilet, you should follow it with continuous water for about five minutes to ensure all the saltpeter washes off. For both smokeless and black gunpowder, this will render it useless.

Why You Should Not Flush Gunpowder

Though you can get by flushing small amounts of gunpowder, it’s better to just avoid the toilet all together. Both types of gunpowder are extremely hazardous for the environment, and it can contaminate water supplies and pipes once flushed. This means people will be using that toxic water for baths, cooking, and even drinking, which is a major health risk.

From there, it has the potential to make its way all the way to local water bodies, causing an environmental disaster. Once in the water, it poses a threat to sea animals and animals that drink the water.

Smokeless vs. Black Gunpowder

When disposing of gunpowder by yourself, it’s crucial to know what type you have. Smokeless gunpowder and black gunpowder have very different reactions, which means they need to be disposed of in different ways, too. That said, there are a handful of ways you can get both types off your hands that require minimal work on your end:

  • Contact the Police Department: In many cases, police units or bomb disposal teams will take the gunpowder from you and either dispose of it themselves or use it for training exercises.
  • Give it to a Gun Store: Ammunition stores will be able to get you in contact with safe gun owners who reload. They may even take it off your hands themselves.
  • Sell it Online: You can always find interested buyers for anything on the Internet. That said, it’s important to do your research and due diligence to make sure you’re not selling to someone who has ill intentions for it.

Disposing of Smokeless Gunpowder

Smokeless gunpowder is a propellant used in firearms and is not explosive. As the name suggests, it doesn’t produce much smoke. It also has a high burn rate that gets even higher when put under high pressure.

Due to the lack of smoke, it can be difficult to tell if smokeless gunpowder has been lit. This can be extremely problematic because smokeless gunpowder is by far the most powerful type. Fortunately, there are some safe ways to get rid of it.

Light It Up

Since smokeless gunpowder is not explosive nor does it raise fumes, it is safe for you to light it up as long as you follow safety protocols. For starters, you should only ever light up to a pound at a time to avoid anything getting out of control. You will also need a fuse to ensure you’re able to light it at a safe distance.

One way to light your gunpowder is by making a trail on any hard surface. You can also do this in the cracks of sidewalks to kill off any weeds. The other option is to dig a ditch and light the gunpowder in there. Be sure to steer clear of any overhanging branches or objects nearby that can catch fire.

Use it as Fertilizer

Gunpowder has high levels of nitrogen, which can be very healthy for your plants. By lightly dusting your smokeless gunpowder over your plants, you can foster plant growth. However, it’s important not to overdo it as too much of anything can end up being bad for the plants. Plus, the excess can blow in the wind and contaminate the air you breathe.

Disposing of Black Gunpowder

Black gunpowder is explosive and produces high levels of smoke. Since it’s volatile, it can’t simply be tossed away, and it definitely can’t be lit up. That said, we have a few solutions for getting it off your hands.

Drop It Off at a Waste Facility

Many waste facilities will take black gunpowder and dispose of it safely. This is one of the easiest things you can do with it, but you will have to make the trip yourself to one of these places. Most will not come pick it up at your home.

Trade it at a Gun Dealer

If you live near a local shooting range or a gun dealer, they are likely to take black gunpowder off your hands. Many will have this listed as one of their services, but it doesn’t hurt to ask either way.

Mix it with Damp Dirt

Like smokeless gunpowder, black gunpowder can act as a great fertilizer for your plants. The water in the soil will take away the reactiveness of the gunpowder by leeching away the potassium nitrate. This is because potassium nitrate is water-soluble, so it dissolves once in contact with a lot of water.


Related Questions

What causes gunpowder to explode?

One of gunpowder’s main property is rapid burning. When put in a tightly packed area, it becomes pressurized and when it lights, the gases to build up and explode. The saltpeter in gunpowder also provides the necessary oxygen, so it doesn’t need air to burn.


Will gunpowder clog a toilet?

Unlike hair clumps, paper towels, facial tissues, and other foreign objects, gunpowder is not likely to clog your toilet. However, large amounts can damage your pipes, plumbing system, septic tank, and more.

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In Conclusion

While you can get away with flushing small amounts of gunpowder down the toilet, you should avoid it at all costs. Depending on how much you flush, you run the risk of contaminating water supplies, harming local residents, and upsetting ecosystems, too.

The good news is there are plenty of safer and more efficient ways to get rid of gunpowder, so you’re not inconveniencing yourself by not flushing it. Plus, by using these other methods, you can be 100% sure you’re doing the task safely.

Kerry Souder
Kerry Souder

I am a copywriter and editor based in the Las Vegas area with nearly a decade of experience under my belt writing landing pages, cost guides, blog posts, newsletters, case studies, and social media content. I have a degree in Strategic Communication and experience working in both the account and creative spheres. My goal is to always be discovering new interests and bettering myself as a writer and editor along the way.

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