How to recycle oxygen cylinders (without the hassle)

There’s a good chance that you have some empty oxygen cylinders sitting in the back of your van right now, and if you do, you’re definitely not alone.

Most tradies and technicians hold onto them for longer than they’d like, not because they don’t want to get rid of them, but because recycling them is such a hassle.

Between figuring out where you can recycle oxygen cylinders, working around the limits set by local recycling centres, and finding the time to get there, it’s one of those jobs that just keeps getting put off.

Oxygen cylinder recycling involves safely disposing of empty cylinders through approved recycling or collection services, rather than general waste or landfill.

Why recycling oxygen cylinders isn’t as simple as it should be

Recycling oxygen cylinders sounds like it should be a simple task; however, it’s often quite inconvenient, which results in cylinders piling up in the van or office.

Limited drop-off options:

Not all recycling centres will accept your cylinders, and those that do often have strict limits.

Time out of your day

It usually means loading them up, potentially driving suburbs away and waiting in a line.

Uncertainty

There’s often confusion around what is accepted, how many you can bring and whether they’re safe to transport.

So instead, they sit there just taking up space.

How to recycle oxygen cylinders – a simpler way

Instead of having to make a trip to a recycling centre to dispose of oxygen cylinders, you can now organise recycling to be picked up from your site or workshop.

The process is designed to be straightforward:

1. Order your recycling box online: A purpose-built box is delivered to you for $15.99.

2. Pack your 4 cylinders: Securely place your empty oxygen cylinders inside.

3. Leave the box out for pick up: The courier collects the box – no drop-off required.

4. Book your collection: Follow the link provided when you ordered to arrange collection.

5. Our courier picks up from you: The courier collects the box – no drop-off required.

That’s all there is to it. No long trips, not waiting in line and no guesswork!

Do you have to absorb the cost?

The cost of one box is $15.99. That’s less than $4.00 per cylinder! There are no additional fees for collection.

For most businesses, this is a small operational cost and one that can easily be built into your service pricing or job costs, just like other consumables or disposal fees.

It’s no different to factoring in:

• Waste removal>
• Materials handling
• General site clean-up

It allows you to offer a cleaner, more complete service without having to wear the cost personally.

Why it’s worth doing

There are several practical reasons to stay on top of your oxygen tank disposal, other than convenience:

• Free up space in your vehicle or workshop
• Avoid build-up of unused or empty cylinders
• Keep sites cleaner and safer
• Stay compliant with proper disposal practices

And if you’ve already got some sitting around, it’s a really easy job to just tick off in one go.