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Baseball may be America’s “National Pastime” but grilling and barbecuing come in as a close second. How much of a pastime, you ask?
Well, according to one source,
- – About 7 out of 10 U.S. adults possess a smoker or a grill, while in Canada, the ratio is 8 out of 10. (Go, Canada, eh!)
- – 75 percent of owners grill during the winter months.
- – The most popular foods on the grill are burgers with 85%, followed by steak at 80%, hot dogs at 79 percent, and chicken at 73 percent – in case you were wondering!
And a survey conducted by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) in 2020 asked consumers about which types of grills they owned. Approximately 61 percent of the respondents indicated ownership of a gas grill. 49 percent owned a charcoal grill.
Clearly, some folks have one of each!
But what about the “junk” from old grills, tools, or even propane tanks? In fact, do you know what to do with old propane tanks and other grilling and backyard items?
No worries! Junk King Fairfax specializes in yard waste and scrap metal removal.
Old Propane Tanks: Replace or Recycle?
Anyone with a gas grill (or outdoor gas-powered heater) knows that you can almost always take your empty containers to a propane gas provider and exchange them for new tanks. For a fee, of course.
But it’s a lot less expensive to exchange a tank than to buy a new one.
At some point, however, every propane tank, cylinder, or bottle, will degrade and reach the end of its useful life. Propane dealers know that those smaller, portable propane containers – the small cylinders and bottles, for example – will usually reach this point sooner than the larger, stationary bulk tanks.
So, what are your options when it comes to disposing of a propane tank?
If a tank is still serviceable, you may be able to recycle the propane tank.
Since there’s likely to be some propane left in the tank, many municipal landfills, recycling centers, and scrap metal dealers will not accept old or damaged tanks for recycling. However, some propane exchange companies will take your unused propane cylinders and recycle them at no cost to you.
Yes, Even Old Propane Tanks Can Be Recycled
According to Propane.org, a local propane supplier should also be able to direct you to a specialized recycler, who can accept your tank.
“Another good reason to choose a recycler that specializes in propane tanks is safety. To recycle a tank, it must be serviceable and able to meet all safety requirements, because it will be refilled and reused again and again.
So, before you dispose of your propane tank, consider your options for recycling:
- – Refill/Reuse your tank.
- – Call a local propane supplier about recycling your tank.
- – Talk to your local hazardous waste disposal site about taking the tank.
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Contact your local public works department about recycling your tank.”
How do you dispose of an old propane tank if it’s damaged or is no longer serviceable, and it’s not possible to recycle it? Fortunately, there are a few options available to you for proper propane tank disposal.
For large, bulk propane tanks, you can contact a licensed propane company for removal. They can safely purge any remaining propane from the tank and have the specialized tools to remove the tank safely.
For disposing of small propane tanks that are damaged or unserviceable, contact a propane supplier or your local household hazardous waste (HHW) collection site.
In Fairfax County, by the way, you cannot legally dispose of your old propane tanks in your household trash. According to the official County website,
“Do not include: gas tanks, propane or refrigerant tanks. If a private company collects your trash and recyclables, contact them to arrange for a special collection. If you have county trash and recycling service, call 703-802-3322, TTY 711 or schedule the collection online.”
However, the simplest solution would be to make a call to Junk King Fairfax and let us take care of all your old propane tanks, broken down patio furniture, and gas grills that have passed their shelf life.
Yes, your old gas grill, too.
Can I Properly Dispose of My Old Gas Grill Myself?
With proper maintenance and replacement of parts, you can usually extend the life of your gas grill. But the day will come when it simply needs to be replaced. And it can be difficult to know what to do next.
You can take care of your old gas grill disposal yourself – if you really want to – but you should follow these recommended steps to help you do so safely and responsibly.
- – Clean all surfaces as thoroughly as possible of any food debris.
- – Make sure the gas is off, disconnect the propane tank, and then disassemble the grill. Be sure to wear work gloves for protection.
- – Steel, stainless steel, cast iron, brass and aluminum parts can be recycled at your local scrap metal dealer or at a recycling center; visit earth911.com to find one near you.
- – Most plastic parts can also be recycled; follow local municipal guidelines for plastic recycling.
- – Metal-plated parts, caster wheels, gauges, hinges, and regulator/hose assemblies should be disposed of in your standard domestic garbage waste disposal system.
- – For batteries and electronics, check with your local government for disposal practices. Also, be sure to contact your manufacturer or consult your owner’s manual for further details.
Along with your old gas grill that has seen its last backyard cookout, you may have other backyard or patio appliances that need to go.
Maybe it’s a propane patio heater or a propane powered outdoor fire pit? If they are unusable or simply have become quite old and need to be replaced, they also need to be disposed of properly.
Here’s a few helpful tips for properly disposing of any gas-powered patio appliances:
- – Clean any debris from the surfaces.
- – Make sure the propane tank is off and disconnected from the regulator/hose before removing it from the appliance.
- – Wear work gloves to protect against any sharp edges or metal burrs.
- – Any steel, stainless steel, cast iron, brass, or aluminum parts can be recycled at your local scrap metal dealer.
- – Many plastic parts can also be recycled.
- – Any door magnets, fake logs, lava rocks, wheels, weight plates, or regulator hose assemblies should be placed in your residential garbage bins.
On the other hand, if you aren’t keen on doing all this yourself and dismantling and breaking down equipment and appliances just aren’t your thing, the easiest option is to call the team at Junk King Fairfax.
We’ll come out, you simply point, and we do all the heavy lifting! Easy as that.
We Know What to Do with Old Propane Tanks and Other Debris at Junk King Fairfax!
So, if you live in or near the greater Fairfax area in places like Leesburg, Chantilly, Arlington, Sterling, or Reston, it’s good to know that Junk King Fairfax is available to take care of your yard debris removal and other residential junk hauling needs.
No matter what it is, if you don’t want it or need it then it’s time to get rid of it!
The green team at Junk King Fairfax provides efficient, safe, and authentically eco-friendly junk removal services. Eco-friendly because we work hard to recycle or reuse as much of everything that we pick up each and every day.
And our professional junk removal team will carefully remove and haul off any types of junk you have without damaging any part of your home or property in the process. .
Our expert and courteous junk removal team will show up at your home or place of work on time, as promised, and we’ll call 15 to 30 minutes before we arrive. Once we’re there, we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck.
If you like our price, you simply point, and we’ll load those old junk items into our junk removal trucks and haul them away to be recycled, if possible, and with no hidden fees.
So, ready to get rid of your yard waste and other junk? It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3.
Just make an appointment by booking online above, or by calling us at 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).
