So, you drained the gas from your lawn mower and have it in a fuel-safe container, but now what do you do with it? Knowing how to dispose of old lawn mower gas can be more complicated than you might think. While you could put it on a shelf in the garage and leave it there forever, the more responsible solution is to recycle it.
However, trying to figure out where to dispose of old lawn mower gas in your city can be hard work and isn’t always clear. So, let me explain where the best place is to go in your part of the country.
How to Dispose of Lawn Mower Gas (The Short Version)
Every state has environmental agencies that handle household hazardous waste disposal (HHW). Old gasoline from a lawn mower is classified as HHW by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Therefore, it is the responsibility of the state environmental agency to take and dispose of your old gas.
Why You Might Need to Dispose of Old Lawn Mower Gas
Gasoline that is unprotected goes bad after about 30 days. This means that if you try to run your lawn mower with old gas, it will start to show performance issues and lead to potential damage. If you are suspicious that your lawn mower has bad gas, then I recommend that you drain the gas from your lawn mower as soon as possible. First, let’s go over a few common symptoms of bad gas.
- Difficulty Starting the Mower
- Poor Engine Performance
- Stalling of the Engine
Where to Dispose of Old Lawn Mower Gas
The EPA has passed legislation specifying that each state is responsible for handling and disposing of household chemical waste, including gasoline. This means that as a private resident of your state (non-commercial), you can take your gasoline to a state-run HHW program facility and drop off your old gasoline for free disposal.
Now, it’s important to know that not all processing facilities take gasoline. So, you need to research the specific materials the facility handles to make sure you bring your old gas to the right place. You should find a drop-off location if you search on the internet for “HHW processing facility” plus the name of your state/county. Here are some examples of different states’ HHW programs.
How to Drop Off Your Old Gasoline
Now that you know where to dispose of old lawn mower gas, you need to go over your county’s requirements and restrictions. So, before you jump in your car, review your local HHW program website and make sure to follow the required steps.
For example, here are some of the requirements of the San Antonio, Texas HHW program.
- Energy Bill & State-Issued Picture ID
- Fuel Safe Container
- No Leaking Containers
- No Mixed Materials or Liquids
- Items are to be Transported in the Truck or Bed of the Vehicle
- Container Limited to 1x 5 gallon or 25x 1 gallon
Is It Illegal to Throw Away Old Gas Any Old Way?
Intentional dumping of fuel is 100% illegal. Gas is classified as hazardous just like any other ignitable, reactive, corrosive, and toxic substances. These materials pose a substantial and potential risk to both public health and the environment.
Cases of corporate pollution have set legal precedence in the supreme court that now reflects on laws governing private individuals. This means that a private individual committing the smallest of intentional gasoline pollution can face extensive fines, probation, and incarceration.
So, now that you know how to dispose of old lawn mower gas the right way, there’ll be no chance of the cops showing up.
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