Old gas bottles turn up in almost every garage, shed and site clear-out: a patio heater bottle, a barbecue cylinder, camping gas cartridges, or a welding cylinder nobody remembers renting. They can’t go in your bin, a skip or general waste. If a cylinder is crushed or heated, even one that seems empty, it can explode.
Most gas bottles are easy to get rid of, and some earn you money back. This guide explains what to do with each type.
Refillable LPG bottles (Calor, Flogas and others)
Most refillable propane and butane bottles aren’t yours to throw away. The cylinder stays the property of the gas company. You only pay for the gas and, in some cases, a refill agreement.
- Calor bottles can be returned to any Calor retailer, or your local Calor Centre can arrange collection. Calor currently offers cashback on returned bottles.
- Other brands such as Flogas can usually be returned to a stockist of that brand. Liquid Gas UK, the trade body, publishes advice on returning cylinders from each supplier.
- Unbranded or foreign bottles that no supplier will take back need a specialist collection or your council’s recycling centre, if it accepts them.
Returning bottles means they can be inspected, refilled and reused, which is far better than scrapping them.
Disposable canisters
Single-use canisters include camping stove cartridges, blowtorch canisters and the helium canisters sold with party balloons.
- Use them until they’re completely empty. Attach them to the appliance and run it until no gas comes out.
- Don’t pierce or crush them. Leftover gas can ignite.
- Take them to your council recycling centre. Many accept empty canisters with scrap metal or in a separate gas bottle area. Check your council’s website first, as the rules vary.
Industrial and welding cylinders
Oxygen, acetylene, argon, CO2 and mixed gas cylinders used by trades and workshops are almost always rented. Return them to the supplier named on the cylinder or its collar, and ask for a collection if you have several. Paying rental on cylinders you’ve forgotten about is a common hidden cost, so it’s worth checking your account.
If you find cylinders with no markings, unknown contents or damaged valves, don’t move them yourself. They need a specialist collection. On a waste transfer or consignment note, gas in pressure containers is coded 16 05 05, or 16 05 04* if it contains hazardous substances. See our guide to waste codes and whether your waste is hazardous.
Why gas bottles must never go in a skip
Skips are emptied at transfer stations where waste is tipped, crushed and sorted by heavy machinery. A cylinder with gas left in it can rupture or explode, injure staff and start a fire. That’s why every skip company lists gas bottles as a banned item. The same applies to aerosols in large numbers and to fire extinguishers. Check our list of what can go in a skip before you load.
Batteries cause the same problem. We explain more in the dangers of batteries in skips.
Storing gas bottles safely until they’re collected
- Keep them upright and outdoors, in a well ventilated spot, away from sources of heat or ignition.
- Keep them away from drains, cellars and low points. LPG is heavier than air and collects at ground level if it leaks.
- Close the valves and fit any caps or covers.
- Don’t store them in a car or van for longer than the journey.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put an empty gas bottle in the bin?
No. Even a bottle that seems empty can hold enough gas to cause an explosion when crushed.
Can I scrap a gas bottle for the metal?
Not a branded refillable bottle, because it belongs to the gas company. Scrap dealers generally won’t accept cylinders at all.
What about fire extinguishers?
Return them to your fire safety servicing company, or ask for them to be collected as part of a hazardous waste collection.
Clearing a site or premises?
Select A Skip can supply a skip for the general waste and arrange collection of gas cylinders, extinguishers and other hazardous items at the same time. See our hazardous waste services, get a quote or call 01743 341 000.
Sources: Recycle Now, Gas bottles; Calor, Gas bottle returns; Liquid Gas UK.