Recycling Gas Bottles

As the summer barbecue season approaches many people in Shropshire will be making use of gas bottles to power their modern barbecues or perhaps getting out the caravan for the summer.  In fact in many Shropshire homes off the gas network these things are common place, so one way or another it is possible that you may end up with a LPG gas cylinder to dispose of at some point. 

Used gas bottles are considered hazardous waste and must be treated with caution because although unlikely they are potentially explosive. The best option is to take them back to where you got them from.  Most companies which sell them take them back free of charge as part of the service and so hopefully you wont have to deal with them yourself, but there are also facilities for the safe recycling of gas bottles at each of the five Council run Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) in Shropshire.

What type of gas bottles do they accept?

Any pressurized metal containers including: -

• LPG (propane or butane) gas bottles
• Gas fire cylinders
• Diving tanks
• Helium cansisters
• Fire extinguishers
• Beer kegs

How should I recycle them?

Ideally you should take the bottles back to the company that makes them, which can normally be identified from the label. It is important that you handle used gas bottles with care. If you take them to a HRC please ask the site staff for assistance. There is a lockable cage at each of the sites where used bottles can be safely stored.

What happens to the gas bottles?

The aim is to reunite orphaned bottles with the company which makes them. They are collected by the LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) Association and wherever possible they are refilled with more gas and reused again.  As a back up where this is not possible the containers are safely depressurized and then they can be recycled for the scrap metal content. 

Why recycle gas bottles?

Primarily it is a health and safety issue, these things can be dangerous and so it is important to follow the correct disposal instructions and ensure that they get taken for professional reuse / recycling.  Not only is it reducing waste to landfill but by allowing bottles to be reused it is reducing the need for more gas bottles to be manufactured. This is reducing the need for metal to be made which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information on recycling gas bottles visit: - 

• Health and Safety Executive
• UK LPG Association