Here’s the latest in a series by the Easton Energy & Environment Task Force (EEETF) to spread the word about how to dispose of different items. This month focuses on propane tanks, including the refillable 20- pound tanks that you may use for grilling and the 1-pound portable cylinders you may use for camping stoves this summer.
A couple of notes about these tanks:
- 20-pound propane tanks in the United States have a required 12-year life span. The tank will be stamped with its manufacturing date. It can be recertified for an additional five years by propane retailers. https://www.ferrellgas.com/tank-talk/blog-articles/how-to-tell-if-your-tank-needs-propane-tank-recertification/
- 1-poind propane cylinders are small, usually green tanks designed for portable use in camping, RVing, tailgating, and so on.
What’s the problem with propane tanks?
The issue has to do with disposal and recycling of the cylinders and tanks that are no longer serviceable. All previously used propane tanks have some amount of gas left in them and are explosive even when nearly empty. Because propane is a hazardous material, it must be handled or disposed of properly. Tanks containing fuel under pressure may explode if tank integrity is altered. This may cause severe injury or death. Tanks containing compressed gas may also explode in waste-to-energy facilities.
In addition, the small 1-pound tanks are often sold as “disposable,” but should never be thrown into trash or recycling bins due to safety and environmental concerns. These are often seen littering parks and campgrounds. Disposal of these tanks has become a serious environmental and safety issue.
What’s the solution?
- Never throw your tanks in the trash.
- Do not attempt to puncture or remove the valve from your tank because tanks usually contain small amounts of propane, even if you think they are empty.
- Blue Rhino and Amerigas take back standard 20-lb tanks and the small green propane cylinders regardless of brand. You do not need to buy a refilled tank if you are done with your tank and don’t need it filled.
- f you have a gas grill propane tank that you no longer need and would like to recycle it, write “RECYCLE” on the tank and take it to any location of these retailers. They will collect the tank and refurbish it if possible. If the tank does not meet safety and quality standards, they will recycle the tank.
- https://bluerhino.com/propane-info/faqs/tank-use-faqs/how-do-i-recycle-my-tank. Blue Rhino locations: https://bluerhino.com/propane-finder
- https://www.amerigas.com/propane-grill-tanks/buy-exchange-grill-tanks
- Amerigas locations: https://www.amerigas.com/locations/find-propane?q=06614
- Don’t bring propane tanks to a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection event. Easton’s local HHW Collection Day is Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 307 Indian Ledge Park Drive next to BMX Facility. HHW events do not accept propane tanks of any kind.
Contaminated recycling raises Easton’s costs. You can support the quality of Easton’s recycling stream in other ways:
- When in doubt, throw it out.
- Keep your recycling as clean and dry as possible.
- A recycling symbol doesn’t mean an item is necessarily recyclable in our single-stream program.
- Small items (less than 2”x2”) clog sorting machines and should be trashed.
RecycleCT is always a great reference to confirm “what’s in and what’s out” and to help avoid wish-cycling (hoping that something is recyclable and putting it in the cart “just in case.”
Keep an eye out for next month’s Recycling Tip! Questions or comments? Email the EEETF at eastonenergytf@gmail.com.
