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
Airgas Store (Berkeley - 6th St) 1224 Sixth St Berkeley Recycle Drop-off for a Fee unusual shapes & sizes. Not camping propane.
Laurel Ace Hardware 4024 MacArthur Ave. Oakland Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Propane exchange or refill.
Berkeley Transfer Station 1201 2nd St. Berkeley Recycle Drop-off for a Fee
Airgas Store (Livermore) 800 Greenville Rd Livermore Recycle Pick-up for a Fee unusual shapes & sizes
Central Contra Costa HHW Collection Facility 4797 Imhoff Pl. Martinez Recycle Free Drop-off Propane only. Five gallons or less.
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.
Delta HHW Collection Facility 2550 Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy Antioch Recycle Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee
Airgas Store (San Jose) 140 S. Montgomery St San Jose Recycle Drop-off for a Fee, Pick-up for a Fee unusual shapes & sizes
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.
Recycling Center & Transfer Station - Contra Costa Waste Service 1300 Loveridge Rd. Pittsburg Recycle Drop-off for a Fee
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 Carlos) 820 Industrial Rd San Carlos Recycle Pick-up for a Fee unusual shapes & sizes
Recology SF Household Hazardous Waste Home Collection San Francisco Recycle Free Pick-up San Francisco Residents only.
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.
Airgas Store (Berkeley - Gilman) 635 Gilman St Berkeley Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Call for details.
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.
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 (San Leandro) 1592 Doolittle Dr San Leandro Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Call for details.
Freon Free 1881 Walters Ct Suite A Fairfield Recycle Drop-off for a Fee, Pick-up for a Fee Services them
Airgas Store (Oakland) 555 Julie Ann Way Oakland Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Call for details.

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