FLAGS

Respect and Recycle Old Glory

Do you have to burn an American flag that touches the ground? Not according to the Flag Code. If it’s an outdoor flag, you can simply hand-wash it with laundry detergent. Some dry cleaners will process your flag free of charge (especially in July).To keep your flag in good condition, bring it in during bad weather, and make sure it’s fully dry before storing it to avoid mold or mildew.

If your flag is beyond saving, the Flag Code says it should be retired, and a preferred method is burning (although this seems counterintuitive in an age of anti-flag-burning ordinances). You can also seal the flag in a box or bag and bury it, or deliver your flag to the American Legion or the local Boy Scout or Girl Scout Council, for a flag retirement ceremony.

Burning nylon flags releases toxic fumes. According to DuPont, “Hazardous gases/vapors produced in fire are formaldehydes, ammonia, carbon monoxide, cyclopentanone, oxides of nitrogen, traces of hydrogencyanide, [and] incompletely burned hydrocarbons.” A green alternative is to write the word “recycle” on the header before handing it over. Then the nylon can be used to make new flags, and the Stars and Stripes will wave again.

Wisconsin-based American Flag Recycling will take your worn-out banner for a fee: $4 for flags 3 x 5 feet to 8 x 12 feet and$5 for flags 10 x 15 feet and larger.