Propane Tanks & Cylinders

Summary of Propane Tank & Cylinder Recycling:

Refillable Propane Tanks are always a better choice than "disposable".
Disposable cylinders are not truly disposable since compacting collection trucks don't accept them.
Age and exposure to the elements impact all tanks and cylinders.
Never refill a leaking or coroded tank.

Locations Accepting Propane Tanks and Cylinders:

New Lenox Township
New Lenox Fire District Sites

Propane Tanks are used for backyard grills, campers, and special projects. When the cylinder is empty, many are refilled at local hardware stores but sometimes this isn’t possible. Perhaps the cylinder appears rusty, the valve isn’t closing properly, there is a leak, corrosion or other unsafe condition. Maybe, the cylinder is small and labeled “disposable” but not readily accepted by any waste hauler. Under these circumstances, the container cannot be refilled and since it is 100 percent steel, it should be recyclable.

The problem is that while it is steel, it is significantly different than a tin can or empty aerosol container. A cylinder of any size is NOT accepted in any curbside recycling program. This item needs to be taken to a collection site with the expertise to empty it of any remaining gas, test it for reuse and recycle it if necessary.

The New Lenox Fire District has stepped in to assist. They accept fire extinguishers and propane tanks, as well as cylinders at all four of their New Lenox locations and at the New Lenox Township site where electronics and traditional recyclables are accepted. propane tank small