Compressed Gas

LessIsMore.org works best in modern browsers like Firefox, Safari, Chrome, or Internet Explorer 8. All are free to download and will greatly improve your internet experience. Wastes in this section are dangerous to you and the environment. Handle them carefully and dispose of them properly. Legally, households may not transport more than 15 gallons of wet or 125 pounds of dry hazardous materials. Read about the regulation.

Compressed gas is used both in homes and places of business. However, when it's time to dispose of compressed gas, be careful! Compressed gas containers should NEVER go into the trash or recycling bin. The pressurized nature of the gas tanks makes them explosive, even when empty. Many different container types can be brought to local hazardous waste facilities, like the Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center (CHWCC), but some cannot. Check out some more information on different compressed gasses, below:

YES, bring these to hazardous waste facilities like the CHWCC:

  • Oxygen - Not explosive but is a combustion-supporting gas. Opening the valve on a compressed oxygen cylinder or within an oxygen system too quickly can cause an explosion or fire, particularly if any contamination is present in the system (e.g. grease, oil, tape, particulate).
  • Helium - Not explosive; helium is an inert gas (or non-combustible) and is used as a coolant for things like rocket ships, MRI machines, and particle accelerators. The metal has a puncture spot on the cylinder that says, “hit here” and once empty, can be recycled.
  • Mapp Gas - Substitute for propane that is used in combination with oxygen for applications such as heating, soldering, brazing, and welding.
  • Nitrous Oxide

NO, these are dangerous and should be disposed of through their manufacturer:

  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Cylinders - Contact the manufacturer. CO2 is a greenhouse gas and should be handled with extreme care.
  • Acetylene - Acetylene is a combustible gas that can be used for welding, cutting, and thermal spraying. Contact the manufacturer. These contain asbestos and must be handed with extreme care.

Propane is also a compressed gas. Check out of propane pages to learn more:

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