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
Cole Hardware, Vallejo St. 627 Vallejo St San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Empty campstove-size only
Cole Hardware 70 4th St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Empty campstove-size only
Cole Hardware 956 Cole St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Empty campstove-size only
Cole Hardware 2254 Polk St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Empty campstove-size only
Recology SF Household Hazardous Waste Home Collection 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.
Standard 5&10 Ace Hardware 3545 California St. San Francisco Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes
Handy Handyman Ace Hardware 2075 Market St. San Francisco Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Soda Stream canister exchange - all sizes
Cole Hardware 345 9th St San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Empty campstove-size only
Safety Kleen (San Jose) 1147 N 10th Street San Jose Recycle Pick-up 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
Linde/Praxair Welding Gas & Equipment Center 2615 Alvarado St San Leandro Repair Drop-off for a Fee Empty
Linde/Praxair Welding Gas & Equipment Center 2615 Alvarado St San Leandro Recycle Drop-off for a Fee Empty
iFixit 1330 Monterey St San Luis Obisbo Repair Free Mail-in DIY repair instructions
North State Environmental (South San Francisco) 220 South Spruce Avenue
Suite 200
South San Francisco Recycle Pick-up for a Fee
Potrero Hills Landfill 3675 Potrero Hills Lane Suisun City Safe Disposal Drop-off for a Fee

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