How to Dispose of an Old Gas Grill or Charcoal Grill

Grill Disposal Basics

Getting rid of an old grill involves a few safety considerations that most household items do not. Gas grills have propane tanks and gas lines. Charcoal grills may have residual ash and grease. Both types are mostly metal, which makes recycling straightforward once the hazardous components are addressed.

The most important rule: never put a propane tank in the trash, in a dumpster, or at the curb. Propane tanks are pressurized containers that can explode if punctured or exposed to heat. They must be handled separately from the grill itself.

Handling the Propane Tank

Before disposing of a gas grill, remove the propane tank and handle it separately.

Options for Propane Tanks

• Exchange programs: Blue Rhino, AmeriGas, and other propane tank exchange programs (found at Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, and grocery stores) accept old tanks as trade-ins. This is the easiest option — bring your old tank and swap it for a full one, or just leave the old one.
• Refill stations: If the tank is in good condition (not rusty, not dented, not expired), U-Haul and propane dealers will refill it.
• Hazardous waste collection: Metro Hazardous Waste facilities in Portland accept propane tanks. Lane County and Marion County also have hazardous waste programs that accept pressurized containers.
• Transfer stations: Most Oregon transfer stations have a separate area for propane tanks. Do not put them in the general waste area.

Tank Expiration

Propane tanks have a 12-year certification from their manufacture date. After that, they can be recertified for another 5 years by a qualified inspector. Expired, uncertifiable tanks must go to hazardous waste collection or a scrap metal facility equipped to handle pressurized containers.

Professional Removal

A junk removal service will pick up the grill (minus the propane tank) and handle proper disposal or recycling.

What to Expect

• Cost: $50 to $100 for a standard-size grill.
• Timeline: Same-day or next-day pickup across Portland, Eugene, Salem, and surrounding areas.
• Preparation: Remove the propane tank before the crew arrives. Clean out loose ash from charcoal grills. Empty the grease trap.
• Propane tanks: Most junk removal companies will not transport propane tanks due to DOT regulations on pressurized containers. Handle the tank separately using one of the options above.

If you have other outdoor items to get rid of — patio furniture, a fire pit, old planters — bundling them with the grill reduces the overall cost per item.

Scrap Metal Recycling

Grills are predominantly steel, which has scrap value. A gas grill yields $5 to $15 in scrap; a large commercial-style grill could yield more.

How to Scrap a Grill

1. Remove the propane tank and hose.
2. Clean out all ash, grease, and food residue.
3. Remove any non-metal components if easy to separate (plastic handles, wood shelves).
4. Take the grill body to a scrap metal recycler, or post it on Craigslist/Facebook as free scrap metal.

Many scrap metal pickers in the Portland and Eugene areas will come pick up a grill for free from your curb if you post it online. It is often gone within hours.

Selling or Donating

If the grill still works well, selling or donating is a better option than scrapping.

Selling

• Facebook Marketplace — Working grills sell well, especially before summer. Price at 30 to 50 percent of retail for a used grill in good condition.
• Craigslist — Effective for grills in the Portland and Eugene markets.
• Nextdoor — Great for local sales. Someone in your neighborhood may be looking for a grill.

Donating

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore — Accepts working grills at Oregon locations.
• Goodwill — Some locations accept grills. Call ahead.
• Community organizations — Churches, Scout troops, and community centers may welcome a working grill for events.

Transfer Stations

Oregon transfer stations accept grills at standard weight-based rates. Remove the propane tank first and handle it through the station's hazardous waste area or separately.

• Metro Transfer Stations (Portland): $10 to $20 for a grill at standard waste rates.
• Lane County (Eugene): $8 to $15 at Glenwood Transfer Station.
• Marion County (Salem): $8 to $15 at the county transfer station.

Charcoal Grill vs. Gas Grill Disposal

Charcoal Grills

• No propane tank to worry about.
• Clean out all ash before disposal. Ash should be completely cool (wait 48 hours after last use) before bagging and putting in the trash.
• Lighter, simpler construction. A standard kettle grill (Weber-style) weighs 20 to 40 pounds and fits in a car trunk.
• Good scrap value relative to their size because they are solid steel or cast iron.

Gas Grills

• Must remove and separately dispose of the propane tank.
• Disconnect the gas hose and regulator from the tank.
• Empty the grease trap and clean grease from the firebox.
• Heavier and more complex. A standard 3-burner gas grill weighs 80 to 150 pounds.

Cost Comparison