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. 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | |
| Airgas Store (Oakland) | 555 Julie Ann Way | Oakland | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Call for details. | |
| Schnitzer Steel (Oakland) | 1101 Embarcadero West | Oakland | Recycle | Buyback Pick-up | Commercial quantity. Gas cylinders including air bottles, shock absorbers, propane, and other gas tanks, must be cut in half and valves removed. Acetylene cylinders are strictly prohibited. | |
| Laurel Ace Hardware | 4024 MacArthur Ave. | Oakland | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Propane exchange or refill. | |
| MLK Smog Shop | 5509 Martin Luther King Jr Way | Oakland | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Refills reusable 1 lb propane cylinders | |
| U-Haul Refill Station Locator | 5330 International Blvd | Oakland | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Location finder for propane refills. Fee for refill | |
| Laurel Ace Hardware | 4024 MacArthur Ave. | Oakland | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Propane exchange or refill. | |
| 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. | |
| Cole Hardware (Rockridge) | 5533 College Ave | Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane exchange. Does not accept single use small propane canisters. Small camp | |
| Re-Up Refills | 6025 College Ave | Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Free drop off of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) cartridges, like Soda Stream, Drink Mate. They stock and thus, give deposits for DrinkMate cartridges. | |
| Soda Stream Exchange and Recycling Locator |
Store Drop-off option : Bed Bath & Beyond 590 2nd St |
Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Mail-in for a Fee | See Store Locator webside for drop-off locations and mail-in exchange program. | |
| Chevron Oakland (Hegenberger) | 451 Hegenberger | Oakland | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Refills empty cylinders, including reusable 1 lb cylinders | |
| Pick-Up Propane BBQ Tank Exchange (CA Location Finder) |
889 West Grand Ave ARCO AM/PM (IFuels Inc.) (Pick Up Propane Location) |
Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Fee for exchange, upgrade or sale. | |
| Central Contra Costa HHW Collection Facility | 4797 Imhoff Pl. | Martinez | Recycle | Free Drop-off | Propane only. Five gallons or less. | |
| Bill's Ace Hardware | 3610 Pacheco Blvd. | Martinez | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes | |
| Airgas Store (Livermore) | 800 Greenville Rd | Livermore | Recycle | Pick-up for a Fee | unusual shapes & sizes | |
| 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. | |
| U-Haul Livermore | 3429 Gardella Plaza | Livermore | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Sells empty or full cylinders and refills cylinders, including reusable 1 lb cylinders | |
| Blue Rhino | One Liberty Plaza | Liberty | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | ||
| Home Depot | 1625 Sycamore Ave. | Hercules | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills |
