Recycling workers face higher rates of accidents than other industries, according to OSHA. Cuts, scrapes, over-exertion– these are all known hazards of the trade. But cylinders can cause a unique and more dangerous hazard, as pressurized containers are susceptible to exploding. This can cause direct bodily harm to employees nearby a container as pressurized gas, and potentially metal shrapnel, propel through the air at high rates of speed. But even more frightening is the risk of fire; when a sealed cylinder is damaged or exposed to extreme heat–both scenarios being very likely in a scrap metal collection environment– it can begin to leak, and depending on the contents of the cylinder, a single spark can cause a rapidly spreading fire or combustion. 

While pressurized cylinders like propane tanks, fire extinguishers, and oxygen tanks are made of metal and fully recyclable, they should be handled with greater care than most other scrap metal recycling. 

• Never place a sealed cylinder in your household recycling collection cart– being dumped into the back of the collection truck is the perfect environment to cause an explosion! 

• Never drop cylinders at a metal recycling facility (including Research Alloys) unless you have explicit permission to do so. 

• If you’re in Franklin County and need to dispose of an old cylinder, check out SWACO’s Household Hazardous Waste webpage for info on safely recycling these containers. 

• Industrial or commercial clients may be able to recycle cylinders with us, with special conditions being met. Please call (614) 224-4404 for more information. 

Visitors to our drive-through recycling facility will notice new signs about cylinders as we ramp up our efforts to protect our team and keep our recycling streams clean for our buyers. Please feel free to chat with management while you're here if we can help provide any further information.