Household Hazardous Waste
This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.
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.
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 as it is not considered hazardous waste. Look for a shoulder label to contact and return an unwanted cylinder to that company. Old, rusty or unknown empty 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 (e.g, AirGas). For DTSC detailed information on handling empty cylinders (then considered waste), see this link. Click here for more information on propane tank recycling.
Vendors
| Vendor | Address | City | Destination | Method | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | |
| Safety Kleen Systems (Sacramento) | 6000 88th Street | Sacramento | Recycle | Pick-up for a Fee | Discharge and collection services. | |
| Airgas Store (Concord) | 1825 Arnold Industrial Way | Concord | Recycle | Pick-up for a Fee | unusual shapes & sizes. Exchange for cylinders with recent embossment date on cylinder depending on gas type - inert vs corrosive. | |
| Staples (San Ramon) | 2710 Crow Canyon Rd. | San Ramon | Recycle | Free Drop-off | Soda Stream CO2 cylinders - drop off, they send back to be refilled. | |
| 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 | |
| Airgas Store (Berkeley - 6th St) | 1224 Sixth St | Berkeley | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | unusual shapes & sizes. Not camping propane. Exchange for cylinders with recent embossment date on cylinder depending on gas type - inert vs corrosive. | |
| Airgas Store (Vacaville) | 630 Eubanks Ct | Vacaville | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Call for details. Unusual sizes and shapes. Exchange for cylinders with recent embossment date on cylinder depending on gas type - inert vs corrosive. | |
| Airgas Store (Livermore) | 800 Greenville Rd | Livermore | Recycle | Pick-up for a Fee | unusual shapes & sizes. Exchange for cylinders with recent embossment date on cylinder depending on gas type - inert vs corrosive. | |
| Staples (Pleasant Hill) | 2120 Crescent Dr. | Pleasant Hill | Recycle | Free Drop-off | Soda Stream CO2 cylinders - drop off, they send back to be refilled. | |
| Airgas Store (Fremont) | 4567 Enterprise St | Fremont | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee, Pick-up for a Fee | unusual shapes & sizes. Exchange for cylinders with recent embossment date on cylinder depending on gas type - inert vs corrosive. | |
| Staples (Concord) | 4498 Treat Blvd. | Concord | Recycle | Free Drop-off | Soda Stream CO2 cylinders - drop off, they send back to be refilled. | |
| Bill's Ace Hardware | 3610 Pacheco Blvd. | Martinez | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes | |
| Pleasanton Transfer Station | 3110 Busch Rd. | Pleasanton | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | ||
| Airgas Store (San Carlos) | 820 Industrial Rd | San Carlos | Recycle | Pick-up for a Fee | unusual shapes & sizes. Exchange for cylinders with recent embossment date on cylinder depending on gas type - inert vs corrosive. | |
| Staples (Antioch) | 4863 Lone Tree Way | Antioch | Recycle | Free Drop-off | Soda Stream CO2 cylinders - drop off, they send back to be refilled. | |
| Recology SF Household Hazardous Waste Home Collection | 501 Tunnel Ave | San Francisco | Recycle | Free Pick-up | San Francisco Residents only. | |
| Recology SF Household Hazardous Waste Facility | 501 Tunnel Ave. | San Francisco | Recycle | Free Drop-off | Limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds per day of all household hazardous waste. San Francisco residents only. Address verification required. Open Thursday-Saturday only from 8am-4pm. | |
| Staples (Pinole) | 1230 Fitzgerald Dr. | Pinole | Recycle | Free Drop-off | Soda Stream CO2 cylinders - drop off, they send back to be refilled. | |
| Linde/Praxair Welding Gas & Equipment Center | 2615 Alvarado St | San Leandro | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Call first. | |
| Airgas Store (Berkeley - Gilman) | 635 Gilman St | Berkeley | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Call for details. Unusual sizes and shapes. Exchange for cylinders with recent embossment date on cylinder depending on gas type - inert vs corrosive. |
