How to dispose of propane tanks
Propane tanks can explode in a garbage truck, so they never go in the trash or recycling. The easy routes are exchanging the tank when you buy a new one, returning it where propane is sold, or dropping it at a site that takes cylinders. Many transfer stations take grill-size tanks, sometimes for a small fee.
Short answer
- Not in the trash or recycling bin.
- Exchange it when you buy a full one, or return it to a propane dealer.
- Drop-off sites: many transfer stations and hazardous waste sites take 20-pound grill tanks.
- Small camping cylinders often follow different rules than grill tanks — check before you go.
Why not the trash
New York City's sanitation department warns that gas cylinders can explode inside collection trucks, causing serious injury and damage, and lists propane, butane and other fuel canisters among the items never to put out with trash or recycling. Its alternatives: exchange the tank when buying a new one, return it to a store or dealer that sells it, take it to a scrap metal dealer, or bring it to a hazardous waste disposal event.
Find a drop-off near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest disposal sites. A propane tank usually goes to a household hazardous waste area or event, so check the site's page or call before you drive.
Where to take it
From sites we've verified:
- Cary, North Carolina: propane tanks up to 20 pounds at the hazardous waste drop-off.
- Gray, Maine: 20-pound propane tanks free from households.
- Marietta, Georgia: $15 each.
- Puyallup, Washington: $25 each.
- Chicago's household hazardous waste site takes propane grill tanks.
Others don't: Meriden, Connecticut and Bristol, Rhode Island won't take propane tanks, and Clearwater, Florida's drop-off refuses tanks over 1 pound. Check your own site's page first.