To dispose of an American flag properly, take it to an American Legion or VFW post, a Scout troop, a fire station, or another local collection point that runs retirement ceremonies. If you would rather handle it yourself, the U.S. Flag Code says a flag no longer fit for display should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 4 USC 8 – Respect for Flag Cutting the flag apart or burying it are widely accepted alternatives, and the right choice usually depends on what your flag is made of and whether open burning is allowed where you live.
Is Your Flag Actually Ready to Retire?
A flag is ready when it is faded, torn, frayed, or so soiled it no longer looks presentable. A little dirt or a small fray at the edge does not end its life. You can hand-wash a cotton or nylon flag in cool water with mild soap, hang it to dry, and trim small frays with scissors. A faded but structurally sound flag might get another season on a residential pole. Retire it once the damage is past simple repair.
Where to Drop Off a Worn Flag
The easiest route is to hand the flag to an organization that already handles retirement. The American Legion is the best-known collector, and many posts keep a drop-off box outside the building. Veterans of Foreign Wars posts offer the same service. Both organizations have chapter locators on their websites if you are not sure where the nearest post is.
Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA troops regularly run flag retirement ceremonies as community service. Local fire departments, police stations, and government offices often keep collection boxes as well, and some hold ceremonies on Flag Day, June 14.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 36 USC 110 – Flag Day Ace Hardware and Lowe’s locations sometimes accept flags too, though availability varies. Call ahead before making the trip.
Mail-In Services
If nothing local works, a handful of companies accept flags by mail for a small shipping fee and handle the retirement for you. Availability changes, so a quick search for a current mail-in service is the best way to find one. This tends to be the practical option for apartment dwellers and anyone in an area with strict fire codes.
VA Burial Flags Are Handled a Bit Differently
Burial flags issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs carry special weight, and the VA asks that you not send them back. If the flag is still in good condition, you can donate it to a national cemetery that maintains an Avenue of Flags, where it will fly on patriotic holidays. If it is worn or damaged, any Veterans Service Organization will accept it and retire it properly.3Veterans Affairs. Burial Flags to Honor Veterans and Reservists
Burning a Flag at Home
Burning is the method the Flag Code specifically endorses. If you have a safe outdoor space and local rules allow open fires, you can retire the flag yourself.
Fold the flag into the traditional triangle so only the stars are visible. Build a fire large enough to consume it completely. Place the folded flag into the flames without letting it touch the ground. Observe a moment of silence, recite the Pledge, or simply stand quietly while it burns. Once the flag has been reduced to ash, extinguish the fire safely and bury the ashes.
Metal grommets will survive the fire. Collect them from the ash and bury them with the ashes or dispose of them separately. There is no formal protocol for grommets; keeping them out of the yard is common sense.
Check Local Fire Ordinances First
This is where people get into trouble. Many cities, suburbs, and apartment complexes prohibit open burning entirely, and some jurisdictions require a permit even for a small fire on private property. Violating a local burn ban can result in a fine no matter what you are burning, so read your municipal fire code before lighting anything. If open burning is off the table, the alternatives below work just as well.
Cutting the Flag
A widely accepted alternative is to cut the flag so it no longer resembles a flag, then dispose of the pieces respectfully. The one firm rule: never cut into the blue star field, which represents the union of the states and stays whole.
Lay the flag flat with the star field in the upper left. Make a vertical cut to separate the star field from the stripes, then cut through the stripes to separate the red and white sections. Once the flag has been reduced to individual pieces, it is no longer considered a flag, and the pieces can be placed in the trash, buried, or otherwise discarded. This is a good option when burning is impractical or when the flag is synthetic.
Burying the Flag
Some people prefer to fold the flag into a triangle and bury it directly in a wooden or biodegradable container. Burial is a dignified alternative recognized by various veterans’ and civic organizations, though the Flag Code itself only mentions burning. A biodegradable container helps the flag break down naturally over time.
What to Do With a Synthetic Flag
Most flags sold today are nylon or polyester rather than cotton. Burning synthetic fabric releases toxic fumes, which is a real health and environmental concern. If your flag is synthetic, cutting is the safest and most practical retirement method. Recycling programs for synthetic flags have largely dried up in recent years because of changes in global recycling markets, so do not count on finding one. Cutting the flag apart and disposing of the pieces is the most reliable approach when burning is not advisable.
Is It Illegal to Throw an American Flag Away?
No. People sometimes worry that retiring a flag the “wrong” way will get them in legal trouble, and it almost certainly will not. The Flag Code is part of federal law, but the Congressional Research Service has confirmed that most of its provisions carry no enforcement mechanism and are “declaratory and advisory only.”4Congress.gov. Frequently Asked Questions About Flag Law There is no federal fine for putting a tattered flag in the trash rather than burning it.
A separate federal statute does criminalize intentional flag desecration, but it explicitly exempts “the disposal of a flag when it has become worn or soiled.”5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 700 – Desecration of the Flag of the United States; Penalties Retiring a worn flag by any reasonable method is not desecration under federal law.
In August 2025, Executive Order 14341 directed the Attorney General to prioritize enforcement against flag desecration under existing content-neutral laws, such as open burning restrictions or disorderly conduct statutes.6Federal Register. Prosecuting Burning of the American Flag That order targets protest-related burning, not respectful retirement of a worn flag. It is still one more reason to follow local fire rules carefully if you plan to burn a flag at home.
Common Misconceptions
A Flag That Touches the Ground Must Be Destroyed
The Flag Code says the flag should never touch the ground, but it does not say a flag that hits the dirt must be retired.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 4 USC 8 – Respect for Flag If the flag is still clean and undamaged, pick it up and keep flying it.
You Must Burn the Flag
Burning is the preferred method in the Flag Code, but it is not the only acceptable one. Cutting, burial, and drop-off at a veterans’ organization are all dignified alternatives. The spirit of the code is that the flag be treated with respect during its final handling.
Throwing a Flag Away Is Illegal
Tossing a flag in household trash is considered disrespectful, but it is not a crime. The Flag Code is advisory, and the federal desecration statute specifically excludes disposal of worn flags. Respectful retirement is the right thing to do; no one is going to arrest you over a trash can.