How to get rid of a propane tank in Massachusetts

Checked November 2026 · by JUNKRUN, Melrose MA

In short

Not trash: never with gas in it

Never put a propane tank in the trash. MassDEP says tanks with gas in them can explode in waste-to-energy facilities. Take it back to the dealer (many AmeriGas and Blue Rhino dealers take 5-pound steel tanks, usually free), bring it to your town's hazardous waste collection, or take an empty one to a scrap metal yard.

Tank with gas in the trash?: Never
Easiest route: Dealer take-back (5 lb steel tanks, usually free)
Other routes: Town collection day; scrap yard for empty tanks
Never: Remove the valve
JunkRun: Does not take propane tanks

Propane tanks: what to do with it in Massachusetts

Is it banned from the trash?

Propane tanks are not on MassDEP's disposal ban list, but MassDEP's household hazardous products guide is clear: do not dispose of tanks containing gas in the trash. The reason is that tanks containing compressed gas may explode in waste-to-energy facilities.

Do not try to take the valve off. The guide says do not attempt to remove the valve from the tank, because special safety equipment is needed to prevent an explosion.

Do this, in order

1
Look at the tank. A steel grill cylinder, 20 lb or smaller, is the usual one.
2
Is it a good tank with an old valve? A dealer can sell you an adapter, and you keep using it.
3
Call the nearest AmeriGas or Blue Rhino retailer and ask if they take it back.
4
No luck? Use your town's collection day or transfer station (the table below).
5
Empty tank and a scrap yard nearby? Call and ask if they take empty propane tanks.
6
Do not open or cut the valve, and do not put the tank in the trash with gas in it.

Your options, free to hauled

Cheapest first. Most people can stop at step one or two; the last step is for when you want it gone today.

1
Keep using it, or adapt it
Free
Tanks in good condition with old fittings may be reused with an adapter purchased at most propane gas dealers. That is the cheapest way to get rid of an old tank: keep it.
2
Return it to the dealer
Free
Many AmeriGas and Blue Rhino retail dealers take back five-pound steel propane tanks, usually at no charge. This covers the usual grill cylinder. Call the dealer first, since each store sets its own rules.
3
One-pound camping bottles
Free
Very small empty disposable tanks (1 liter) can be thrown in the trash. For disposable tanks, use up all residual gas and follow the maker's instructions for venting before you throw one away.
4
Bring it to a town collection
Low cost
MassDEP's advice: take it to a municipal collection program, if available, or save it for a household hazardous waste collection event, if offered. Some towns charge per tank. The table below shows what each town's page says.
5
Take an empty tank to a scrap yard
Low cost
Scrap metal yards may also accept empty tanks. Call ahead and tell them it is an empty propane tank.

What towns do about propane tanks

Fees and rules as read from each town's own page in November 2026. Programs change, so confirm with the town before you go.

Town	Propane tank	Where	Source
Winchester	$10 (20 lb only); 1-lb and 20-lb tanks accepted, fees may apply	Transfer Station, residents only, permit	winchester.us
Lynn	$5 per tank	DPW, 250 Commercial St., Lynn residents, ID required, weekdays	Lynn DPW
Saugus	No cost to residents, empty or up to 20 lb	Annual hazardous waste day; not at CHaRM	Saugus notice
Boston	Empty or full; no fee stated, residents only	Zero Waste Days, ID required	boston.gov
Peabody	Listed as accepted, fee not stated	Recycling center, 50 Farm Ave, Mon-Fri 7 am-4 pm, proof of residency; 978-536-0600	Peabody flyer
Reading	Hazardous Waste Day each spring	DPW 781-942-9077	readingma.gov
Stoneham	Hazardous Waste Day only, fees apply	DPW 781-438-0760	Stoneham rules
Waltham	Not accepted at Minuteman (compressed gas cylinders)	Use an exchange dealer	Waltham HHW page

Winchester
Propane tank
$10 (20 lb only); 1-lb and 20-lb tanks accepted, fees may apply
Where
Transfer Station, residents only, permit
Source
winchester.us
Lynn
Propane tank
$5 per tank
Where
DPW, 250 Commercial St., Lynn residents, ID required, weekdays
Source
Lynn DPW
Saugus
Propane tank
No cost to residents, empty or up to 20 lb
Where
Annual hazardous waste day; not at CHaRM
Source
Saugus notice
Boston
Propane tank
Empty or full; no fee stated, residents only
Where
Zero Waste Days, ID required
Source
boston.gov
Peabody
Propane tank
Listed as accepted, fee not stated
Where
Recycling center, 50 Farm Ave, Mon-Fri 7 am-4 pm, proof of residency; 978-536-0600
Source
Peabody flyer
Reading
Propane tank
Hazardous Waste Day each spring
Where
DPW 781-942-9077
Source
readingma.gov
Stoneham
Propane tank
Hazardous Waste Day only, fees apply
Where
DPW 781-438-0760
Source
Stoneham rules
Waltham
Propane tank
Not accepted at Minuteman (compressed gas cylinders)
Where
Use an exchange dealer
Source
Waltham HHW page

Malden and Medford do not list a propane drop-off on the pages we read.

What JunkRun does about propane tanks

We cannot take propane tanks. They are hazardous waste. Keep the tank out of the pile and take it to the dealer or your town's collection first.

If the tank is one item in a bigger garage or basement cleanout, we take the rest of it from any floor. Cleanouts are priced by the load.

Cleanout loads start at the $159 minimum: a ¼ trailer is $209, a ½ trailer $319, a full trailer $519.

See the full price list →

Edge cases

How do I know whether the tank is empty?

If you cannot tell, treat it as full: do not dispose of tanks containing gas in the trash. The dealer or collection day will check it.

What does a town charge for a propane tank?

It varies. Winchester's Transfer Station lists $10 for a 20 lb tank. Some towns take tanks on a hazardous waste day instead, and some do not take them at all, so check your own town first.

What about the little green 1 lb camping bottles?

Very small empty disposable tanks (1 liter) can be thrown in the trash once the gas is used up, following the maker's instructions. Anything bigger takes the routes above.

Can I just leave it next to the trash barrel?

No. Tanks containing compressed gas may explode in waste-to-energy facilities, which is why MassDEP says a tank with gas never goes in the trash.

Quick answers

Can I throw a propane tank in the trash?

Not with gas in it. MassDEP says tanks containing gas must not go in the trash, because they can explode in waste-to-energy facilities. Only very small empty disposable bottles can.

Where can I drop off a propane tank in Massachusetts?

At the dealer (many AmeriGas and Blue Rhino dealers take five-pound steel tanks, usually free), at your town's hazardous waste collection, or an empty tank at a scrap metal yard.

Can I empty a tank myself?

MassDEP says to use up residual gas in disposable tanks and never to remove the valve. Take a refillable tank to the dealer.

Does JunkRun take propane tanks?

No. We do not take hazardous waste. We take the rest of a cleanout.

Sources

Checked November 2026. Programs and fees change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with your town.

MassDEP: Waste disposal bans: “Materials Currently Banned from Disposal or Transfer for Disposal in Massachusetts”
MassDEP: Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products: “Do NOT dispose of tanks containing gas in the trash.”
MassDEP: Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products: “Tanks containing compressed gas may explode in waste-to-energy facilities.”
MassDEP: Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products: “DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE VALVE FROM TANK.”
MassDEP: Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products: “Tanks in good condition with old fittings may be reused with adapter purchased at most propane gas dealers.”
MassDEP: Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products: “Many AmeriGas and Blue Rhino retail dealers take back five-pound steel propane tanks, usually at no charge.”
MassDEP: Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products: “Take to a municipal collection program, if available, or save for a household hazardous waste collection event, if offered.”
MassDEP: Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products: “Scrap metal yards may also accept empty tanks.”
MassDEP: Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products: “Very small EMPTY disposable tanks (1 liter) can be thrown in the trash.”
MassDEP: Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products: “Use up all residual gas, for non-refillable (disposable) tanks”