How to dispose of propane tanks
Start with your city: most cities take propane tanks through hazardous waste and drop-off sites. Choose your city below to jump to its rules, or read the options that apply anywhere.
Your city’s rules for propane tanks
| Hazardous? | Yes: treat it as household hazardous waste. Pressurized flammable gas; may explode if crushed in a garbage truck or damaged. (portal.ct.gov) |
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Ways to get rid of propane tanks
Household hazardous waste drop-off
HHW collection if accepted by your program. (portal.ct.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Retailer take-back
Propane dealers/suppliers and exchange programs. (portal.ct.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Scrap metal recycler
Empty single-use steel cylinders to scrap metal. (dnr.wisconsin.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Rules to know
- Return to a propane dealer/supplier; do not remove the valve; use transfer station or HHW if accepted (CT DEEP). (portal.ct.gov)
- Do not attempt to remove the valve. (portal.ct.gov)
- Small single-use cylinders: use contents until empty; recycle empty all-steel cylinders at scrap metal; not curbside (WI DNR). (dnr.wisconsin.gov)
- Call propane dealers about valve replacement or tank recycling (Maine DEP). (maine.gov)
Cautions
- No curbside recycling. “Cylinders should NOT be placed in your curbside recycling.” (dnr.wisconsin.gov)
- WTE explosion risk. “Tanks containing compressed gas may explode in waste-to-energy facilities.” (portal.ct.gov)
Related guides
All disposal guidesChecked October 30, 2026 against federal, state and program pages. Local rules come first: your city’s page shows its own pickup and drop-off rules.