How to Dispose of a Grill

Co-authored by Victor Belavus and Krysten Jackson

Last Updated: October 1, 2024 References

After plenty of delicious meals and fun cookouts, you have decided to say goodbye to your trusty grill. Figuring out how to toss your barbecue doesn’t have to be confusing, even if it has all the bells and whistles. You have plenty of options that will make the process much simpler. Keep reading to learn the best ways to get that grill off your hands.

Things You Should Know

Dispose of your grill by scheduling for bulk trash or recycling pick-up. If your grill is still working, consider donating or selling it.
Break down your grill into metal, plastic, and other waste. The smaller components will be simpler to scrap, recycle, or toss with the regular trash.
Avoid putting your grill on the curb unless you know your local waste removal service will take it. You can be fined for disposing of you grill improperly.

Section 1 of 4:

Getting Rid of an Intact Grill

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1
Contact local waste removal services to pick up your grill. Your local waste management service may offer special curbside pick-up for large grills and other bulky trash. Call or check online to see if a program like this exists in your area. If so, schedule a time for them to haul your grill away.^{[1]
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- You may also need to pay a fee depending on the size of your grill.
- Certain municipalities have bulk trash pick-up weekly, monthly, or seasonally.
If your grill is still in working order, you may be able to sell it for some extra cash. Sell it locally or list it on sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, where interested buyers can take it off your hands.^{[2]
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Donate your grill. Drop off your grill at a thrift store or a community center to give it a second life. Donation is often faster than selling, since you don’t have to wait for a buyer. So if you have a clean, working grill you’d like to get rid of quickly, take this route.
- Certain Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Salvation Army locations will accept your grill.
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Give up your grill at a disposal event. Some towns have bulk item pick-up or drop-off events from time to time. At these events, you will be able to get rid of large trash like your grill. Check your community board to see if an event like this will be held soon.^{[3]
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- Certain events may require a local ID.
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Contact professional trash removal services. A junk removal service will send a team to quickly and professionally take away your grill. Using a service like this, you won’t have the hassle of breaking down your grill. The convenience does come at a price, however. Removal can cost more than $100 USD.^{[4]
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- Companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK or LoadUp are available nationwide, but local junk removal businesses are also readily available.

Section 2 of 4:

Breaking Down Your Grill For Disposal

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Take your grill apart for easier disposal. Start by removing the top of your grill. Use a screwdriver to loosen any hinges connecting the top or any doors. Continue to take off anything else removable, such as wheels, racks, knobs, and handles. With less bulk, you won’t have to schedule any special pick-ups.^{[5]
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- Before dismantling your grill, clean up any leftover food residue, charcoal, ash, or wood pellets. Throw away this debris with regular trash far from anything that may ignite. Be sure to wrap charcoal briquettes in foil and a metal container to prevent any additives from seeping out.
- For gas-powered grills, cut off the fuel supply before doing anything. Check for gas leaks and keep a fire extinguisher ready, just in case.^{[6]
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- Separate the components by what they’re made out of, such as metal, plastic, and any other materials.
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Scrap the metal parts of your grill. Grills are often made with aluminum, stainless steel, and brass that can still be useful even if you no longer have a need for it. Contact a local scrap dealer to see if they can take the metal from your grill. You can also make some extra cash if they pay for successful trades.^{[7]
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- The parts of your grill that are fully metal, such as lids, racks, and bodies, are more likely to be accepted. Parts that are a mixture of metal and plastic, like knobs or handles, may need to be tossed directly in the trash.
- If you have a small portable grill made of mostly metal, such as a tabletop charcoal grill, the scrap yard may take the entire thing.
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Dispose of your propane tank separately. If you are throwing out a propane grill, you may not be able to scrap the tank. Residual fuel or fumes inside make it highly flammable, meaning extra steps may need to be taken to get rid of it.^{[8]
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Research source} To dispose of your tank, contact the manufacturer and see if they take trade-ins.
- Propane dealers near you may also take your tank, as will some Home Depot and Ace Hardware locations.
- Call your local hazardous waste collection site to see if they can also help you dispose of your propane tank.
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Recycle plastic parts of your grill. If your grill has plastic parts, check them for a recycling symbol. This may include doors or handles, depending on your grill. Then, drop off acceptable pieces at your recycling center.^{[9]
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- Even with a recycling symbol, your local program may not take your parts. Look online or call directly to be sure what the center will and will not take.
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Throw away parts that can’t be scrapped or recycled. Dispose of anything made of a non-recyclable material with the regular trash. This may include your wheels and, if you have a gas grill, your fuel hose.^{[10]
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- If your grill has parts that use batteries or electronics, remove and dispose of them as e-waste. Take them to an electronics recycling facility. Some areas may even have e-waste disposal events.^{[11]
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Section 3 of 4:

Can you leave your grill on the curb?

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You likely can’t leave your grill on the curb with regular trash. Because grills vary in size and weight, many waste removal services won’t take them away without a heads up.^{[12]
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Research source} If you schedule a bulk item pick-up, the workers will know what to expect and bring any necessary equipment to haul your grill away.
- You can be fined for improperly disposing of your grill on the curb or in an alleyway.

Section 4 of 4:

Can you take your grill to the dump?

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Some dumps may take grills, but not all. Grills can include a lot of components that make trashing it difficult. Taking your grill to a landfill may be a simple fix, but some will not take them due to their size, electronic parts, etc.^{[13]
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Research source} If you would like to take your grill to a local dump, call ahead to make sure you can.
- Some communities also have convenient drop-off locations for bulk items. You may need to place your grill in a dumpster for it to be accepted, so take a friend to make lifting easier.
- Both landfills and drop-off locations may charge a fee for taking your grill or other bulk items.