A grill is almost a necessity for homeowners who like to entertain.
Whether you want a charcoal or gas grill, these accessible appliances quickly become the focus of a party.
Grills are an affordable and common way to cook food. This means that there will come a time when you will need to dispose of your grill.
Because they are so common, it is important to know how to dispose of a grill, so they don’t end up in a landfill.
How to Dispose of a Grill
To properly dispose of a grill, you must break it down into all of its individual pieces. Each of the different parts of a grill must be handled separately.
Even though disposing of a grill properly is time-consuming, it is the environmentally responsible thing to do.
Two common types of grills exist for the regular backyard cook. Propane gas grills and charcoal gas grills are usually the two forms you can choose from.
Propane gas grills use a propane tank to supply a flame to cook food.
A charcoal grill is commonly smaller and round. These grills have a lid that comes completely off, and you place charcoal in the grill body.
The charcoal itself is lit and gradually gives off heat and a signature flavor to meat and vegetables.
There are a few steps to take to properly dispose of a grill, especially when you break it all down. Properly disposing of a grill provides environmental rewards as well as a little financial gain too.
Read on to get an in-depth explanation of how to dispose of a grill.
Scrapping a Grill (part by part)
According to the notable grill manufacturer Charbroil, proper maintenance and replacement of parts will extend the life of your grill.
When it’s time to replace the grill completely, proper disposal requires you to break down the grill.
Based on what kind of grill you have, you will determine what to do with every individual part.
We will provide a basic overview of each component, but be sure to analyze the specifics of your grill.
Grill Body
The body of the grill is the largest part of the grill.
The body contains the racks where you place the meat and vegetables and in a charcoal grill where the briquettes are poured.
Check with a scrap metal dealer to determine how much of your grill body is recyclable.
Often grill bodies are made with stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, and other recyclable materials.
If your grill body is not recyclable, you will have to dispose of it in the standard trash collection.
Even if your grill has rust, a scrap metal dealer will still accept the metal. This is true for any metal you may find on your grill.
Don’t let a little rust discourage you from exploring scrapping your grill.
Grill Lid
A grill lid is a piece that safely covers the grilled foot and helps it cook.
If you have a charcoal grill, the lid will be a large metal half circle that you can easily replace.
A gas grill lid stays attached to the grill by a hinge. This makes recycling this piece a little more complicated.
Any stainless steel, aluminum, or steel can be taken to local scrap metal dealers to be recycled.
You can recycle plastic handles, sides, or other components on the grill lid if they have the recycle logo. Inspect the grill lid to see if you find the logo.
If not, the plastic grill lid pieces would be disposed of in the normal garbage collection procedure.
Side Shelves
Many propane grills have side shelves to help organize food before you grill. This is almost exclusively a feature on propane grills.
Charcoal grills do not have side shelves.
Like the grill lid, you must check plastic side shelves for a plastic recycling logo. If you see the logo, you are free to toss them in the regular recycling service.
Plastic shelves with no clear recycling logo stamped on them should be disposed of in the trash.
If the side shelves are made of metal, you can recycle them with the scrap metal dealer near you.
Propane Hose
You should have a propane hose that connects the grill body to a propane gas tank if you have a gas grill.
Unfortunately, you cannot recycle the propane hose.
Dispose of the propane hose in the standard trash disposal.
Gas Valves
The gas valves on a propane grill control the amount of gas ignited so the food can cook within.
These valves are metal, made of brass or aluminum. Simply remove the valves with a wrench and recycle them.
Control Knobs
Your control knobs help ignite the grill and manage the strength of the flames. If the control knobs are black plastic, you can recycle them.
Metal-plated control knobs cannot be recycled and should instead go in the trash.
Electronics and Batteries
Electronic components like electric controllers, ignition wires, or any batteries should be removed and kept aside from other electronics.
These do not go in the garbage or the recycling.
Instead, check with your city to understand the policy for disposing of e-waste.
You should treat these types of products like an old computer or other discarded electronics.
Wheels
There are often two distinct parts to a wheel of a grill. The plastic wheel can easily be recycled with other plastics.
The casters surrounding the wheel should be placed in the traditional trash pickup.
Propane Tank
Your propane tank can be refilled and reused many times before it needs to be disposed of.
However, if it’s time for a new propane tank, there are specific steps you must take for safe disposal.
When you want to get rid of your propane tank, simply consult with the propane gas dealer.
They can help you with recycling and disposal, so this is the safest choice.
If your propane gas dealer cannot accept your old propane tank, your local fire department is the next place you can try.
Remember to always treat these old propane tanks as hazardous waste and exercise caution.
Because there may be gas residue in the tank, it is not safe to dispose of it just anywhere. Never simply toss a propane tank into your trash or recycling.
It is also not advised to dispose of with a scrap metal dealer.
Prepping Grill for Disposal
Before you take apart your grill for disposal, make sure you have thoroughly cleaned the grill.
Remove all food debris from the racks and clean out the grill body.
Unplug the propane hose from the tank and remove the propane tank from the work area.
Make sure you know how much propane gas is in the tank for safe handling.
Can I Leave my Grill Out for Regular Garbage Collection?
It is not recommended to leave a grill out for regular garbage collection for a few reasons. First, there are so many recyclable things within a grill that it just makes sense to recycle them.
Also, the scrap metal parts could earn you a few dollars and be the green choice.
Leaving a grill out for regular garbage collection will result in many grills filling up our landfills and contributing to a waste problem.
Are There Other Ways to Dispose of a Grill?
Yes! If you’d rather not do a do-it-yourself grill dismantling, there are other ways to dispose of a grill.
Check with your local recycling center to see if they accept intact grills.
Some recycling centers host events where they take bulky or complicated items like grills throughout the year.
Be aware that if you decide to use a service to dismantle your grill into recyclable parts, they may charge a fee.
Be sure to ask if there are fees for pickup and breaking down the grill.
Lifespan of a Grill
The typical lifespan of a propane or charcoal grill is between five and 15 years.
A propane grill typically lasts longer, with a lifespan easily reaching ten years or more.
A charcoal grill often needs to be replaced much earlier, commonly after five years or so.
Of course, the lifespan of your grill depends on the level of use and maintenance the grill owner invests.
Grills left outside year-round or grills that are not used often may degrade more quickly than the average lifespan.
Owning a grill is a rewarding experience, with parties and good food almost guaranteed. When it’s time to dispose of a grill, take the time to break it down into all of its parts.
Be sure to inspect the parts of your unique grill to determine if plastic parts are recyclable or not.
Most metal parts can be scrapped with a local scrap dealer, even if they are rusty. You should always recycle electronic components with other e-waste.
This way, you can responsibly dispose of a grill in an environmentally-friendly way.
Categorize all of the parts into scrap metal, recyclables, and just plain trash to properly dispose of a grill.
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