How to Dispose of an Old Portable Generator

Sell it or fix it

Generators sell well, even ones that don't run, to people who repair small engines. Stale gas in the carburetor is a common reason they won't start. List it honestly before scrapping it.

Drain the fluids

Many public sites require small engines to be emptied. Durham, NC says all fluids must be removed from lawn equipment, and Chesterfield County, VA says gasoline and oil must be removed from mowers. Expect similar rules for generators.

Gasoline: run the engine dry or siphon the fuel into an approved can, then take it to household hazardous waste. EPA's household hazardous waste page advises keeping products in their original containers and never mixing them. See leftover gasoline at home.
Oil: drain it into a sealed container and take it to a used oil drop-off. See recycling used motor oil.

Batteries and power stations

Electric-start models often have a small lead-acid battery. Remove it and recycle it. Battery-only portable power stations contain lithium-ion packs. Follow EPA's lithium-ion battery page and take them to a battery or HHW drop-off, not the trash. See where to recycle batteries.

Checked October 2026. Rules for this item vary by city and county, and fees and accepted items change. Check your local solid waste or household hazardous waste page, or call the site, before you haul.

Scrap it

Once it's drained, the frame, engine and alternator are mostly metal. Many sites take scrap metal free, including Durham, Prince William County (for residents) and Kent County, MI. Scrap yards may pay a little by weight. Never haul a generator that still has gas in it inside a closed car or rental truck. See do not haul gasoline in a rental. Find drop-offs on the Dumpmapper map.