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.
Vendors
| Vendor | Address | City | Destination | Method | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airgas Store (Hayward) | 30131 Industrial Pkwy SW | Hayward | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Call for details. Unusual sizes and shapes. Acceptance includes nitrous cylinders. | |
| Home Depot (San Leandro) | 1933 Davis St. | San Leandro | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills & exchanges (fee) | |
| U-Haul Fremont (Thornton) | 4833 Thornton Ave | Fremont | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Sells empty or full cylinders and refills cylinders, including reusable 1 lb cylinders | |
| Staples (SF - California St) | 300 California St. | San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Soda Stream CO2 cylinders - drop off, they send back to be refilled. | |
| Home Depot (Pleasanton) | 6000 Johnson Ave. | Pleasanton | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills & exchanges (fee) | |
| U-Haul Hayward | 529 Jackson St | Hayward | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Sells empty or full cylinders and refills cylinders, including reusable 1 lb cylinders | |
| MLK Smog Shop | 5509 Martin Luther King Jr Way | Oakland | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Refills reusable 1 lb propane cylinders | |
| Blue Rhino | One Liberty Plaza | Liberty | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | ||
| Home Depot (Oakland) | 4000 Alameda Ave. | Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills & exchanges (fee) | |
| Laurel Ace Hardware | 4024 MacArthur Ave. | Oakland | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Propane exchange or refill. | |
| Home Depot | 5631 Lone Tree Way | Brentwood | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills | |
| Staples (SF - Van Ness) | 1700 Van Ness Ave. | San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Soda Stream CO2 cylinders - drop off, they send back to be refilled. | |
| Home Depot (Newark) | 5401 Thornton Ave. | Newark | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills & exchanges (fee) | |
| Fredericksen Hardware | 3029 Fillmore St. | San Francisco | Reuse | Free Drop-off | refill | |
| Home Depot | 2090 Meridian Park Blvd. | Concord | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills | |
| Staples (Fremont) | 39116 Fremont Hub | Fremont | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Soda Stream CO2 cylinders - drop off, they send back to be refilled. | |
| Home Depot | 11939 San Pablo Ave. | El Cerrito | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills | |
| Home Depot (El Cerrito) | 11939 San Pablo Ave | El Cerrito | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills & exchanges (fee) | |
| Cole Hardware (Rockridge) | 5533 College Ave | Oakland | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane exchange. Does not accept single use small propane canisters. Small camp | |
| Home Depot | 1625 Sycamore Ave. | Hercules | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Propane refills |
