Where Can I Dispose of Propane Tanks? 6 Options [2026]

Disposal options vary by tank size. Identify which type you have.

20-pound tanks (standard BBQ grill size): These are the most common. They are refillable and exchangeable at thousands of retail locations. This is the easiest type to dispose of.

1-pound camping cylinders (small green Coleman-style): These are single-use and not refillable. They are harder to dispose of because many facilities will not accept them.

100-pound and larger tanks (whole-house propane): These belong to your propane supplier in most cases. Call your propane company — they will pick up their own tanks at no charge.

Regardless of size, never puncture, crush, or throw a propane tank in the trash. Even an "empty" tank contains enough residual gas to cause an explosion if compressed in a garbage truck.

The easiest disposal method for standard BBQ-size tanks is a tank exchange. Blue Rhino and AmeriGas operate exchange cages at thousands of retail locations nationwide.

Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, ACE Hardware, and many gas stations have Blue Rhino exchange cages. Bring your old tank, place it in the cage, and take a full one. The exchange costs $19-25 depending on the retailer. If you do not need a new tank, many exchange locations still accept the old tank — ask the store associate.

Local propane dealers (search "propane refill near me") accept old tanks for recycling. Most dealers take them at no charge because the steel tanks have recycling value. Some dealers offer $1-3 credit toward future purchases. Call first to confirm — not every dealer accepts tanks from other brands.

Some ACE Hardware and True Value stores accept old propane tanks as a courtesy. This varies by location and franchise owner, so call ahead.

One-pound camping propane cylinders (the small green Coleman-style cans) are the trickiest to dispose of because they are single-use and many facilities refuse them.

First, make sure the cylinder is completely empty. Attach it to your camping stove or lantern and run it until the flame goes out. An empty cylinder is much safer to handle.

Some household hazardous waste facilities accept empty 1-pound cylinders. Call your county's HHW program first — policies vary widely.

Refillable adapters exist ($15-25 on Amazon) that let you refill 1-pound cylinders from a 20-pound tank. This reduces waste and saves money if you camp frequently. Brands like Flame King and GasOne sell these adapters.

Green Cylinders by Worthington (Bernzomatic parent company) now offers a recycling mail-back program for their cylinders. Check their website for details and prepaid shipping labels.

If no local option exists, some scrap metal yards accept empty, punctured cylinders. Use a cylinder puncture tool ($10-15 at hardware stores) to safely vent and pierce the cylinder before bringing it to the yard.

No. Propane tanks of any size should never go in regular trash, curbside recycling, or dumpsters. This is true even for "empty" tanks.

Propane tanks contain residual gas even when the gauge reads empty. Inside a garbage truck compactor, the pressure from crushing can rupture the tank and ignite the remaining gas. This causes fires and explosions that injure sanitation workers.

Most municipalities impose fines of $100-500 for putting propane tanks in the trash. Repeated violations can result in suspended waste collection service.

The only exception: Some municipalities allow empty 1-pound camping cylinders in the trash if they are completely depressurized (no hissing when the valve is opened). Check your specific city's rules before doing this — most cities do not allow it.

Propane tanks have an expiration date stamped on the collar — typically 12 years from the manufacture date. After expiration, tanks can be recertified by a licensed propane dealer for another 5 years, or disposed of.

Expired tanks: Take them to a propane dealer. They will either recertify the tank ($5-15) or accept it for recycling. Blue Rhino exchange cages will not accept expired tanks — the automated system rejects them.

Rusted or damaged tanks: These cannot be refilled or recertified. Take them to your household hazardous waste facility or a scrap metal yard (empty only). Propane dealers also accept damaged tanks for disposal.

Leaking tanks: If you smell gas, move the tank outdoors away from any ignition sources. Do not transport a leaking tank in your car. Call your local fire department's non-emergency line for guidance on safe removal, or call a propane dealer — many offer emergency pickup for leaking tanks.

Use these resources to find a drop-off location:

• •Earth911.org — Enter "propane tank" and your zip code to find local recycling locations
• •BlueRhino.com — Store locator for exchange cages at 60,000+ retail locations
• •AmeriGas.com — Similar locator for AmeriGas exchange stations
• •Your county's waste management website — Search for "household hazardous waste" plus your county name
• •Call 311 — Many cities route hazardous waste questions through their 311 information line

If you are clearing out an entire garage, shed, or yard and have propane tanks mixed in with other junk, separate the tanks for proper hazardous waste disposal and book Dropcurb ($79) for everything else. We handle the bulk items, old grills, furniture, and general junk — you handle the propane tanks through the proper channel.