The quick answer
- Cans with gas in them: take them, capped and upright, to a household hazardous waste (HHW) facility or collection day. Many programs keep the fuel and let you take the can home or leave it with them.
- Empty cans: HHW programs are still the safest drop-off. Some transfer stations and landfills accept fully empty cans in a special area, and some scrap yards take empty metal cans. Call first.
- Fresh gas: the easiest way to empty a can is to use the fuel in a mower, car or other equipment it was meant for.
- Not in the recycling cart. Fuel residue and vapors make gas cans a poor fit for curbside recycling in most programs.
Empty or still holding fuel?
How you dispose of a gas can depends on what is inside it. A can that still sloshes is carrying flammable liquid and should be treated as household hazardous waste. A can that is truly empty still holds vapor and a film of fuel, so most sites want it handled with care too. Shake the can and look through the spout: if you can see or hear liquid, it is not empty.
Old cans can also be damaged. Cracked plastic, rusted seams, missing caps or a broken spout are good reasons to retire a can, but they also mean it may leak on the way to the drop-off. Set a leaking can inside a larger container or a tub so drips are caught.
What to do with the fuel inside
- Use it up if it is good. Gas that has been stored for a short time and still looks and smells normal can usually go into the equipment it was bought for.
- Take old or mixed fuel to HHW. Gas that has sat for a long time, turned dark, separated, or been mixed with oil for a two-stroke engine should go to a hazardous waste program. Our guide to leftover gasoline at home covers stale fuel in more detail.
- Keep fuels apart. Do not pour gas, diesel, kerosene and oil into one can. Programs handle them differently, and a mystery mix is harder to accept. Diesel has its own page: how to dispose of diesel fuel.
- Label the can with what is inside if it is not obvious.
Where gas cans can go
- Household hazardous waste facilities. Permanent HHW sites and one-day collection events are the standard answer for cans with fuel. Many take empty cans too. See our household hazardous waste guide for how these programs usually work.
- Transfer stations and landfills. Some have an HHW drop area or accept empty, uncapped cans with the trash. Others refuse any fuel container. Ask before you load up.
- Scrap metal yards. Clean, empty steel cans may be taken as scrap where the yard allows fuel containers. Expect them to ask that the can be empty and open.
- Auto shops and small-engine shops. A few accept old gas or fuel mixes from customers. Policies vary, so call ahead.
Use Dumpmapper to find a landfill, transfer station or drop-off near you, then check the site’s hazardous waste rules before you drive.
Metal cans, plastic cans and jerry cans
- Plastic gas cans are the most common household type. Even when empty, they are rarely accepted in curbside recycling because of the fuel residue soaked into the plastic.
- Metal cans and jerry cans are sturdier and may have scrap value once completely empty. Do not cut, weld, drill or crush a metal can that has held fuel; leftover vapor can ignite.
- Safety cans with spring-loaded lids and flame arrestors are common in shops. They follow the same path: HHW or a site that accepts fuel containers.
- Small fuel bottles for camp stoves are a different item; see how to dispose of butane canisters.
Hauling cans safely
- Cap every can tightly and keep it upright.
- Wedge cans so they cannot tip or slide, ideally in an open truck bed or a well-ventilated cargo area.
- Do not leave cans in a hot closed car, and do not smoke near them.
- Go straight to the drop-off instead of running errands with fuel on board.
What not to do
- Do not pour gas on the ground, into storm drains, sinks or toilets.
- Do not let it “evaporate” in an open can; vapors are a fire risk and pollute the air.
- Do not burn fuel or cans in a fire pit, burn barrel or brush pile.
- Do not put a can with fuel in the trash, a dumpster or the recycling cart.
- Do not crush, puncture or cut a can that has held gasoline.
Gas can disposal FAQ
Can I throw away a gas can in the trash?
Not if it has fuel in it. Some haulers or landfills accept fully empty cans, but many do not. A household hazardous waste program is the safest drop-off for any gas can.
How do I dispose of a gas can with gas in it?
Cap it tightly, keep it upright, and take it to a household hazardous waste facility or collection event. If the fuel is fresh, using it in your equipment first is the simplest option.
Are plastic gas cans recyclable?
Rarely through curbside recycling, because fuel residue soaks into the plastic. Ask your local HHW program or recycling office whether they accept empty plastic fuel cans.
Can I scrap an empty metal gas can?
Some scrap yards take completely empty steel cans. Call first, and never cut, drill or crush a can that held fuel because leftover vapor can ignite.
How do I get rid of old gas in a can?
Old, dark or separated gas and two-stroke fuel mixes should go to household hazardous waste. Do not pour it on the ground, down a drain or let it evaporate.
Can I leave an empty gas can open to air out?
Letting vapors escape on purpose is a fire and air-quality risk. Keep the can capped and take it to a site that accepts fuel containers.
The bottom line
Use up fresh fuel, then take any can that still holds gas to a household hazardous waste site or collection day. Empty cans also do best at HHW, though some transfer stations, landfills and scrap yards take them when they are truly empty. Keep cans capped and upright on the way, keep fuels apart, and call the site before you go.