Where/How to dispose of partially used cans of r134a?

[Herr Kutz]

I have a few cans of partially used r134a that I need to get rid of, but don't want to throw them in the trash. How can I safely dispose of these?

 

[herm0016]

your town or county should have a hazardous materials disposal program. search their websites.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Mine has a "convenience center" where you can take trash. At that location, they have a place where you stack cans of paint, oil, etc for pickup....they probably take that too.

Another option since it's r134a, you could take it to a local repair shop and offer it to them for free...that way it's not just wasted.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Ditto to herm0016 and Scarpozzi -- both. I'm also wondering if Autozone or O'Reilly will take R134 cans for recycle, since they take waste oil and waste antifreeze.

Barring the convenience of the parts store chains, I accumulate a box of chemical hazardous waste in their original containers over a few months. Then I have to schedule a trip across town to the county "household hazardous waste" delivery site. They only receive deliveries on Saturday 9AM-2PM, and I have to check their schedule online during weeks with holidays -- when they're likely closed on that Saturday following or preceding.

 

[Herr Kutz]

It looks like the cities around here have hazardous disposal......one day per year.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

It looks like the cities around here have hazardous disposal......one day per year.

Well, try the auto-parts chain-stores. Otherwise, find a place away from fire and flame in the garage for a sturdy cardboard box, and accumulate your toxic waste in anticipation of "that day". You might also inquire with an auto repair shop, since they are required to routinely dispose of all sorts of foul s***. While their R134 is processed, recovered and dispensed from an expensive machine, they may have a contingency plan for the canned variety.

 

[Meghan54]

Hell, I've got two cans of R12 still sitting around. Can't bring myself to dispose of them (my "illness rearing its ugly head again.) And they'll probably be sitting on their shelf when I pass away.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Hell, I've got two cans of R12 still sitting around. Can't bring myself to dispose of them (my "illness rearing its ugly head again.) And they'll probably be sitting on their shelf when I pass away.

Is that as much to say that you have a "Hoarder's obsessive compulsion"?

That would make for a refreshing turn on the cable-TV series "Hoarders". Somebody who hoards automotive crap.

I was cured of my habit when I moved out of my condominium unit 20 years ago. I was loading my U-Haul for the trip west. I had a caged storage unit in the building basement, which I had filled with old transaxles, a Honda engine, brake and wheel parts, carburetors, etc. -- all sorts of grungy s***. In the distraction of my moving activities, I lost track of the storage unit's status, and left half of the junkyard trash behind with the door open. I was later made to pay a fine for the mess I left.

I'm starting to do this sort of thing again -- acquiring parts for my 25-year-old SUV. I must be stopped!

 

[BoomerD]

Hell, I've got two cans of R12 still sitting around. Can't bring myself to dispose of them (my "illness rearing its ugly head again.) And they'll probably be sitting on their shelf when I pass away.

I have several. Apparently, those cans are pretty valuable to the classic car community. I was offered $30 each a couple of years ago. For some reason, that didn't seem like enough to make me dig them out of the garage...

Check with local auto a/c shops. They should be able to recycle it.

 

[skyking]

I really could have used one of those when I did install the split Mini heat pump.