How Do You Dispose & Recycle Your Old Gas Grill?

Use these guidelines to prepare your old gas grill before sending it for recycling or proper disposal.

With the right care and regular maintenance, gas grills can last for years. Still, even the most reliable models will eventually wear out or break down and figuring out what to do with old gas grills can be a hassle.

When it’s time to get rid of your old grill, avoid leaving it at the curb. Instead, choose eco-friendly options for gas grill disposal like recycling, donating, or even upcycling your old gas grill.

Before taking your old gas grill to a recycling center, be sure to give it a good scrub. A thorough deep clean of your gas grill helps prep it for proper disposal. Once it’s clean, follow the steps below to dismantle and separate the components so you can recycle parts of the BBQ or your used gas grill correctly.

Does Goodwill Take Gas Grills?

If you’re considering donating your used gas grill, check with local charities first to see if they accept them. For instance, Goodwill usually doesn’t accept old gas grills unless they’re spotless, completely free of fuel, and still in excellent working condition.

How to Prepare Your Old Gas Grill for Recycling

While these are helpful general tips for handling BBQ grill disposal and getting your old gas grill ready for recycling, it’s strongly recommended to hire a professional to ensure your used gas grill is disposed of safely and in an environmentally responsible way.

⚠️ Be extremely careful! Both the gas and flame are highly dangerous. Never turn the knob on full blast or use a large flame to light the grill.

Before tossing out old gas grills or taking the next step with propane tank disposal and recycling, be sure the tank is completely emptied of any remaining gas.

Check if the propane tank is empty. If your old gas grill still works, turn the burner knob on your gas grill. You should then be able to smell the gas.

Test if the grill lights by carefully holding a lit match near the burner. If your used gas grill doesn’t ignite right away or there’s no gas smell, DO NOT keep trying. Your old propane tank could still be releasing gas that isn’t reaching the burner, and repeated attempts to light it could lead to a dangerous situation.

⚠️ WARNING: Do not try to empty a propane tank by turning the valve and letting the gas escape. This is extremely dangerous and will cause the area to become highly flammable.

Optional: The safest way to ensure your propane tank is properly discharged is by having a professional handle the task. You can find reputable propane dealers near you by doing a Google search or checking the Yellow Pages.

Before taking your propane tank to be emptied, make sure to safely remove it from your old grill. Start by capping the lines, turning off the tank valve, and loosening the bolts that secure the propane tank to the grill.

If there are no propane dealers nearby offering this service, consider checking with your local fire department, gas company, or hazardous waste specialists for guidance on safely disposing of your propane tank.

Never store a propane tank indoors. This dangerous and is even illegal in many areas.

Since propane tanks are classified as hazardous waste, it’s essential to check with your local government for any specific disposal regulations in your area before getting rid of an old propane tank.

Some states and municipalities have strict regulations regarding propane tank disposal. These laws may include guidelines on where to store used or unused tanks, such as whether it’s allowed to keep them in your garage, under your porch, or in your shed.

Propane tanks can often be reused through propane tank exchange programs. If you’re in need of propane tank disposal, you can take it to a propane gas dealer. A scrap metal recycler cannot safely dispose of propane tanks due to the residual gas that may remain inside the tank.

Since rubber cannot be recycled, cut the hose from the tank connector and the grill burners then dispose of it in the regular trash collection.

If the gas control knobs are made of black plastic, they can likely be recycled. Otherwise, they will need to be thrown away, even if they appear to be made of metal.

Casters should be thrown away with your regular garbage. Usually, plastic wheels can be recycled with other recyclable plastics.

Any electronics, including ignition wires, electric controllers, and batteries, need to be disposed of with your regular household electronics. Many cities offer free e-waste recycling drop-off events throughout the year. Check your local community bulletin boards or city website to find out when and where these events will be held in your area.

Since most grills are primarily made of metal, they can be recycled easily as scrap. The recycled metal can then be repurposed to manufacture a wide range of new products using the same type of material. Recycling your old gas grill is a smart and eco-friendly way to reduce landfill waste and support sustainable practices.

However, you’ll need to transport it to a recycling facility yourself, and the average scrap value of used gas grills is only about $5, sometimes up to $10. That means the time and effort spent hauling it may not be worth the small return. Instead, you can save yourself the hassle by scheduling disposal with an eco-friendly and affordable junk removal company.

Gas valves can be removed and recycled as scrap metal since they are usually made of brass or aluminum.

The body of your old gas grill is mostly made of recyclable metals like steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. These materials can be recycled as scrap metal, melted down, and reused in the production of new items and building materials.

Just like with the grill body, your old gas grill’s lid can likely be recycled as scrap metal if it is made of aluminum, steel, or stainless steel.

If the handles on the lid of your old gas grill are made of plastic and don’t have a recycling symbol, they’ll need to be thrown away with your regular household trash. If they do have a recycle logo, you can include them with your other recyclable plastics.

Side shelves made of plastic must have the recycle logo imprinted on them to be recycled. Otherwise, they will need to be thrown away. If your old grill’s shelves are made of metal, they can be recycled as scrap.

As you can see, figuring out what to do with an old gas grill can be time-consuming. Leaving it by a dumpster or at the curb might seem like a quick fix, but most garbage services won’t collect bulky items like grills. In many areas, improper disposal can also lead to a citation and a hefty fine.

If you’re getting rid of your old gas grill yourself, contact your local scrap salvage or recycling facility to see if they’ll accept it. If you’d prefer to skip the hassle of disassembling your used gas grill before drop-off, consider booking a pickup from LoadUp to have experienced professionals handle everything for you.

Skip the frustration of getting rid of your old gas grill by hiring professional junk removal services. LoadUp provides on-demand haul-away with upfront pricing that’s typically 20% to 30% lower than most other junk haulers. No on-site estimate required.

♻️3,000,000 Diverted Pounds. We’re proud of the amount of junk we’ve kept out of landfills with Loaders who donate or recycle when possible to keep old grills and other items out of landfills.

Can LoadUp pickup my old grill from my back porch or deck?

LoadUp also provides next-day pickups nationwide and can remove your old gas grill right from the curb, so you don’t have to wait around to have it hauled away!

All of LoadUp’s contracted pickup and disposal professionals are fully background-checked and insured for up to $1 million. Once your removal team is on their way, you’ll get real-time tracking via text message. After your pickup is complete, you’ll receive an email with a link to rate and review their services.

Saying Goodbye to Your Old Grill

While it may be hard to say “goodbye” to your old grill, remember that LoadUp can make it a lot less painful!

Since you’re getting rid of your old gas grill, if you’re in the market for a new one, check out our article on How to Buy the Perfect Grill.

Related Articles from the Trash Talk Blog:

• Your Guide to Buying a New Grill
• The Guide to Decluttering Your Kitchen
• What Can’t Be Recycled in Your Curbside Recycling Bin?
• Everything You Need to Know About Recycling Old Lawn Mowers