Many confiscated items like toiletries and liquids are disposed of through paid contractors that work directly with airports. When illegal items are confiscated like weapons, drugs, or other prohibited substances, local law enforcement is tasked with handling those items.

Strictly speaking, the TSA (not the airline) handles items "surrendered" at security checkpoints. Prohibited items like oversized liquids, gels, and aerosols are typically immediately disposed of or destroyed for safety reasons. However, "prohibited but legal" items—such as expensive pocket knives, high-end tools, or corkscrews—that travelers choose to surrender are often collected and turned over to state agencies. These items are then sold through state surplus stores or online auctions (like GovDeals), with the proceeds often going into a general fund to help pay down national debt or support state budgets. If an item is truly "illegal" (such as narcotics or unauthorized weapons), it is turned over to local law enforcement. For items accidentally left on a plane, airlines hold them in a "Lost and Found" for a set period (usually 30 to 90 days). If they remain unclaimed, the airline may donate them to charity or sell them to specialized "Unclaimed Baggage" centers, where they are eventually resold to the general public.