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 - Single-use/Non-working

Single-use compressed gas cylinders are commonly used for camp stoves, welding, filled with flammable propane or butane.

Household Hazardous Waste

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

Single-use compressed gas cylinders are commonly used for camp stoves, welding, filled with flammable propane or butane. Damaged or empty gas cylinders are hazardous waste and should never be put in the garbage or recycling. They could become punctured during the collection process and cause a fire or injury.

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 or have additional disposal suggestions. As possible, take it back to where you got it or have the supplier come pick it up. For situations other than common fuels, contact a hazardous waste pick-up hauler.

Bring home empty single-use gas containers from camping or tailgating for proper disposal. Consider switching to refillable camping gas 1lb cylinders. Go to RefuelYourFun.org for details and locations.

Vendors

Vendor Address City Destination Disposal Method Notes
Target (2700 Fifth St) 2700 Fifth Street Alameda Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes
Delta HHW Collection Facility 2550 Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy Antioch Recycle Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee
Airgas Store (Berkeley - 6th St) 1224 Sixth St Berkeley Recycle Drop-off for a Fee unusual shapes & sizes. Not camping propane.
Alamo (Dublin) Ace Hardware 7373 Village Pkwy Dublin Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Propane exchange. Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Fremont Facility) 41149 Boyce Rd.
(At the Fremont Transfer Station - follow the trucks)
Fremont Safe Disposal 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 Safe Disposal 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 (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 Safe Disposal 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.
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 (Oakland Facility) 2100 East 7th Street Oakland Safe Disposal 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.
Laurel Ace Hardware 4024 MacArthur Ave. Oakland Reuse Drop-off for a Fee Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes
Laurel Ace Hardware 4024 MacArthur Ave. Oakland Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes
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.
GreenWaste of Palo Alto 2765 Lafayette St Palo Alto Recycle Pick-up for a Fee Empty, depressurized metal gas cylinders can go in your blue recycle cart. The valve must been removed or the tank must be clearly punctured. Pressurized cylinders can to the HHW Station.
Hassett Ace Hardware 875 Alma Street Palo Alto Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes
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.
Pleasanton Transfer Station 3110 Busch Rd. Pleasanton Recycle Drop-off for a Fee
Safety Kleen Systems (Rohnert Park) 5750 Commerce Blvd Rohnert Park Safe Disposal Pick-up for a Fee
Safety Kleen Systems (Sacramento) 6000 88th Street Sacramento Recycle Pick-up for a Fee
Airgas Store (San Carlos) 820 Industrial Rd San Carlos Recycle Pick-up for a Fee unusual shapes & sizes

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