So, you need to dispose of gasoline safely. You may have some old gasoline or other kind of fuel that has been sitting around in the garage and you don’t know how to properly get rid of it. Gasoline is a hazardous material and needs to be disposed of properly.
Here are simple steps you can take to get rid of you old gas in a safe and environmentally friendly way:
1) Make Sure Your Gasoline is in a Proper Container
The first step to getting rid of your gasoline is to make sure it is in the appropriate container. Gasoline should be stored and transported only in special containers that are designed to hold flammable material and liquid. It would be very hazardous to use an unapproved container that can potentially leak. Most gasoline approved containers are 5 gallons or less.
Make sure your gas is in a container designed to hold flammable material like gasoline
2) Call Your Local Recycling Center
Call your local recycling center and see if they allow for gas and fuel disposable. A lot recycling centers provide this service free of charge. They end up recycling the fuel and often times can recondition it for other uses. Every city is different, so be sure to check with your local center and see what their policies are for proper disposal procedures. You can also check with the city so they can point you in the right direction.
Local recycling centers often let you drop off gas and other fuels for recycling free of charge
3) Find a Hazardous Waste Disposal Center
Check around for hazardous waste disposal centers and see what options you have for disposal. Each center has different procedures. Some you have to pay a fee, some are free to city residents, some have limits to how much gasoline you can dispose of, and others have very limited hours of accepted drop off times
Check in with a local hazardous waste disposal center and read there guidelines
4) Check your Local Auto Shops or Repair Shops
Many auto shops will take in your gasoline along with other hazardous fuels. Call around or check online to see if you can find one near you that will dispose of your gas for you. There are a lot of ones that will offer this service free of charge, but you may also come across fees for this service.
Many auto shops will dispose of gas and other hazardous fuels for you
5) Use a Disposal Service
If you need to get rid of a very large amount of old gas or other potentially hazardous fuels, your only option may be to go with a disposal service. This can end up being a very costly service depending on how much material you need to dispose of. Check online or call for these services and compare prices to see what the most affordable choices are for your specific needs
Disposable services are often needed for large amounts of gas, but this can be a costly method
6) Call the Fire Department
Your local fire department will often accept and dispose of gas and other hazardous materials for you. You can call or check online to see if they offer this service. Even if they don’t dispose of it for you, at the very least they can usually point in the right direction for what other options you have locally.
Fire departments will usually dispose of hazardous materials such as gases for you
Additional Guidelines
Can you dump gasoline on the ground?
No, DO NOT dump gasoline on the ground
Can you throw away gasoline in the garbage?
DO NOT throw it in the garbage
Can you dump gasoline down a drain?
DO NOT dump it down any drains
Storage Guidelines for Gasoline
- Use approved containers
- Keep containers tightly sealed and handle them gently
- Store at room temperature
- Store away from heat sources
Conclusion
Make sure your gas is stored and transported appropriately and check around locally for your options. There should be many free options for small amounts of gasoline, but if you have a lot you may need to pay a fee. If you have a gasoline mixed with water or oil many places will still dispose of this for you, so call your local service and see if they can help.
