How to Dispose of an Old Barbecue Gas Grill

Disposing of an old or failed barbecue gas grill is not a simple matter. In the past, the old barbecue gas grill would have been disposed of in the rubbish, along with every other piece of household waste. However, it is no longer possible to put out items such as propane tanks, and expect people to collect them: in the first place, they are exposing themselves to a risk; in the second place, propane gas tanks are not suitable for recycling straight away.

Propane tanks are hazardous waste, and it is illegal in many states to dispose of them in an improper manner: this includes storage inside sheds, under a porch area, or in the garage. In order to properly dispose of the barbecue gas grill, it is necessary to correctly dispose of the propane gas tank first.

Disposing of the Propane Tank

The propane tank of the barbecue gas grill is probably one of the most difficult items to dispose of; it is not as simple as just putting it into the garbage. Firstly, the propane tank needs to be completely ‘discharged’ – i.e., empty – before any company will take it. Tanks must not be emptied by letting the gas escape via the valve: this is dangerous.

Secondly, be aware that most scrap yards or trash points will not accept propane tanks, due to the risk they contain to health. In some areas, propane tanks are considered so volatile that the fire service can be asked to dispose of them – gas companies and hazardous waste specialists can also be contacted.

Tanks which come from a barbecue gas grill more than 10 years old face even stricter legislation; these require different handling, and almost certainly disposal with the assistance of the fire service or hazardous items removal teams – remember that storing propane tanks inside the building is a serious hazard, and also illegal.

Getting Rid of the Rest

Once the propane gas has been disposed of, there remains the rest of the actual grill itself. These usually consist of metal and plastic items, sometimes stained with grease, and a small amount of charcoal blocks. The grill itself can be cleaned and either put out for recycling, given to scrap merchants, or even donated to a charity if so desired. Anything electrical or flame-creating, such as the ignition button and sparks, must be removed from the grill and disposed of properly – throwing them away could result in a prosecution.

Some areas now allow barbeque gas grills to be disposed of whole in certain areas. The heated bricks inside the grill need to be removed and ‘destroyed’ by burning; this can be done in the back yard, or by simply leaving the grill alight until all of the bricks are gone.
When disposing of the BBQ gas grill, remember that the most important and difficult item to dispose of is the propane tank; once this has been taken away, then the rest of the device can simply be trashed or recycled.