How to Dispose of An American Flag

The American flag holds reverence by all citizens, but also through the U.S. Flag Code. If a flag can’t be properly displayed in any way, it’s to be destroyed in a dignified manner.

So what makes flag disposal dignified? How do you properly dispose of an American flag in a respectful way? Whether you have a tattered flag or it is ripped, there eventually comes a time to put the United States flag to rest and the garbage is NOT an option.

When your flag is ready for retirement, here’s all the details about proper flag disposal.

Proper disposal of tattered American flags

There are three main ways to properly dispose of an American flag: burying it, retiring it and recycling it. Before you do any of that, though, you’ll need to know how to fold it in the proper ceremonial triangle (more on that later).

Traditionally, since flags need to be retired in a respectful way, the best course of action is to hold a flag retiring ceremony. You don’t, however, have to be an official or part of an organization in order to properly dispose of the American flag.

Whether you have a tattered flag or its simply just dirty or worn, it doesn’t do you much good to keep it around, especially if you can’t properly display it.

There a few options to properly get rid of an American flag. There’s the flag retirement ceremony which can end with proper burial or burning, as well as donation with a number of local flag disposal locations near you.

Retiring a Flag By Burning

To properly retire the American flag by burning, you’ll need to make sure you hold the flag retirement ceremony (more on that) first. Although the American Legion passed a resolution in 1937 saying the approved method of disposing of flags no longer in service is to burn them, doing so in an improper way could constitute desecration.

To get started, first fold the flag in a ceremonial triangle. (Learn how!)

Once the flag is folded correctly, start a fire large enough to completely surround the flag with flames. Once the fire is ready, lower the flag slowly and deliberately into the center of the fire.

Now, hold a flag retirement to give the American flag a proper funeral. A short speech and a moment of silence are generally a respectful way to observe its importance.

Retiring a Flag by Burying It

If you choose not to burn the flag to retire it, you can also bury it after the proper retirement ceremony.

Start of by folding your flag in the aforementioned ceremonial triangle. The process of retiring the flag is largely the same.

Once you’re ready to bury the flag, dig a hole 4-feet deep. Place your flag in a strong wooden box, ensuring no parts of the flag are making contact with any dirt.

Place your wooden box in the ground and cover up the hole. You can observe the flag retirement with a dignified speech in the same way as if you were burying it.

Proper American flag recycling

The best way to recycle an American flag is to work with an American Legion Post or Boy Scout troop. Most flags are made of nylon, which releases hazardous gases when burned.

Other than using a junk removal service like LoadUp, the best way to make sure your flag is recycled in an eco-friendly way is label the flag for recycling before handing it over to your local troop or post, who will then repurpose the nylon to use for other flags.

If you wish to retire your flag properly, take the steps (listed above) without burning or burying it before you’re ready to send it off for recycling.

🤔 Can I throw away a flag in the trash? While it’s technically not illegal to throw away your flag in the trash, it certainly is not considered dignified disposal, as the flag is to be treated with respect and honor. The best course of action is never throw your flag away in the trash.

Where are the American flag disposal locations near me?

Typically, a good way to consider getting rid of an old American flag is through donation. You can donate any worn or tattered flags to flag disposal boxes in your local area.

There’s always the option of calling on a junk removal service to take care of flag disposal and donation or recycling. Places like LoadUp can pick up old flags and other items for disposal as soon as tomorrow, and for an upfront price.

However, there are plenty of places you can take a flag for disposal. Big companies like The Home Depot have flag disposal boxes near you, often with small wooden boxes outside.

Other organizations like the American Legion, Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America all offer flag disposal through proper retirement.

The best way to officially fold the American flag is using the “The Ceremonial Triangle” method. To properly fold the American flag, you must fold it in the 13 different folds.

Each fold holds its own reverence and meaning, designed to signify what it means to be an American citizen, highlighting values described in the U.S. Constitution.

To start, fold the flag in half lengthwise, or as you said when you were a kid, “hamburger style.” From there, fold in half again, then fold into a triangle from the fly end to the closed end. From there, complete the the triangle fold until all 13 folds are completed.

What is the ceremonial triangle❓ The American flag is folded into what is called a “Ceremonial Triangle” to represent a tri-cornered hat, to pay homage to the hats worn by George Washington and soldiers of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War.

While it’s certainly not required in every situation, if you want to hold a traditional ceremony that stays tried and true to the Red, White, and Blue, the National Flag Foundation has laid out steps to take to make the process official.

1. Use only one flag for the ceremony.
2. Hold the ceremony outdoors and when the sun sets.
3. Have two color guard members and appoint a leader.
4. Followed by a moment of silence, Leader holds the ceremonial final tribute.

Once a leader is appointed, that person typically runs the rhetoric of entire process. This typically includes the right words and cadences that will officially retire the flag.

Leader’s responsibility in a flag retiring ceremony

1. Call the group to attention.
2. Order a salute.
3. Lead the group in pledging allegiance to the flag.
4. Have the color guard retire the flag.
5. Color guard lowers the flag slowly and then fold the flag in the customary triangle and delivers it to the leader for disposal.

If burning an old flag isn’t really your thing, and you really don’t have time for retiring of your american flag, nor finding the proper local recycling and donation centers to get rid of it, considering finding easy flag disposal help.

At LoadUp, with our trusted network of junk removal experts nationwide, we take all junk items, big or small, and dispose of them in an eco-friendly way for a guaranteed price online.

We can make sure your flags are properly disposed in a respectful way, and also take any other items you may need removed, easy. Just like you, we respect the flag at LoadUp and want to make sure we do our part to also respect the environment, as well.

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• How to find local recycling and donation centers near you.