Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal
for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto

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Compressed Gas Cylinders - Refillable

Refillable compressed gas or fuel cylinders most often contains propane, a flammable gas used for heating and cooking and have a special valve for professional refueling.

Household Hazardous Waste

This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.

Damaged or empty propane tanks and cylinders are hazardous waste and should never be put in the garbage or recycling as they could become punctured during the collection process and cause a fire or injury.

Empty, good condition tanks can be exchanged or refilled where you got it (e.g. 1lb or 5-20lb propane cylinders, SodaStream gas cylinders) or have the supplier come pick it up. Look for a label to contact and return an unwanted cylinder to. Old, rusty or unknown cylinders may be taken to a scrap metal company once they have been completely emptied with the valves safely removed. Companies that specialize in gas cylinders may offer this service.

Vendors

Vendor Address City Destination Disposal Method Notes
Delta HHW Collection Facility 2550 Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy Antioch Recycle Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee
Dale Hardware 3700 Thornton Ave. Fremont Reuse Drop-off for a Fee Propane Tank Refilling. Barbecues, RV propane tanks, outdoor heaters – we refill it for you while you wait, no minimum amount required. Replacement tanks available.
Cylinder Recyclers 4355 Sunshine Rd Georgetown Recycle Pick-up for a Fee Commercial generators. Does not service residences. Propane & refrigerant, medical cylinders, nitrogen cylinders, acetylene cylinders
Cole Hardware (Rockridge) 5533 College Ave Oakland Reuse Free Drop-off Propane exchange. Does not accept single use small propane canisters. Small camp
City of Palo Alto Household Hazardous Waste Station Program 2501 Embarcadero Way Palo Alto Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Only 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste per visit. Must be a Palo Alto resident, proof of residency is required.
Chevron Oakland (Hegenberger) 451 Hegenberger Oakland Reuse Drop-off for a Fee Refills empty cylinders, including reusable 1 lb cylinders
Central Contra Costa HHW Collection Facility 4797 Imhoff Pl. Martinez Recycle Free Drop-off Propane only. Five gallons or less.
Brentwood Ace Hardware 8900 Brentwood Blvd.
Ste. J
Brentwood Reuse Drop-off for a Fee refills and exchanges
Blue Rhino One Liberty Plaza Liberty Reuse Drop-off for a Fee
Bill's Ace Hardware 4451 Clayton Rd. Concord Reuse Drop-off for a Fee Propane refills and exchanges
Bill's Ace Hardware 3610 Pacheco Blvd. Martinez Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes
Berkeley Transfer Station 1201 2nd St. Berkeley Recycle Drop-off for a Fee
Allied Propane Service 5000 Seaport Ave. Richmond Reuse Drop-off for a Fee Refills Propane
ALCO Iron & Metal (San Leandro) 2140 Davis Street
Headquarters & Metal Sales
San Leandro Repair Free Drop-off, Buyback Drop-off Call for details regarding valves off, empty, holes drilled, etc. Designated spot for empty cylinders.
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Oakland Facility) 2100 East 7th Street Oakland Recycle Free Drop-off The Alameda County Hazardous Waste facilities cannot accept compressed gas cylinders other than propane, and only 5 gallons or less in volume.
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Livermore Facility) 5584 La Ribera Street Livermore Recycle Free Drop-off The Alameda County Hazardous Waste facilities cannot accept compressed gas cylinders other than propane, and only 5 gallons or less in volume.
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Hayward Facility) 2091 West Winton Avenue Hayward Recycle Free Drop-off The Alameda County Hazardous Waste facilities cannot accept compressed gas cylinders other than propane, and only 5 gallons or less in volume.
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Fremont Facility) 41149 Boyce Rd.
(At the Fremont Transfer Station - follow the trucks)
Fremont Recycle Free Drop-off The Alameda County Hazardous Waste facilities cannot accept compressed gas cylinders other than propane, and only 5 gallons or less in volume.
Airgas Store (San Leandro) 1592 Doolittle Dr San Leandro Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Call for details.
Airgas Store (San Jose) 140 S. Montgomery St San Jose Recycle Drop-off for a Fee, Pick-up for a Fee unusual shapes & sizes

Curbside Service

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