How to Dispose of Lighter Fluid

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 16, 2020 References

Lighter fluid is a type of household hazardous waste. This means you can’t throw it away in your garbage. If you have any unwanted lighter fluid lying around, the best option is to give it to a friend or neighbor who can use it. Otherwise, you’ll have to take it to a household hazardous waste disposal site, or drop it off at a local hazardous waste collection event. Whenever handling lighter fluid or another hazardous material, remember to take proper safety precautions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Finding a Waste Disposal Site

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Read the storage and disposal instructions on product’s label. Follow any instructions the manufacturer has printed on the product’s label as closely as you can. Also, look for any information about whom you can contact for more information about how to properly dispose of your lighter fluid.^{[1]
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- If the label contains a website or phone number, explore these options as well.
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Search online for a local household hazardous waste disposal site. To find a household hazardous waste facility near you, just enter the name of your town, city, or county and the phrase “household hazardous waste site” into an online search engine. Look through the results to find one that accepts lighter fluid.^{[2]
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- Many household hazardous waste disposal facilities charge a small fee, so be sure to ask about the cost of the service before dropping off your lighter fluid.
- At some locations, you may also need to schedule an appointment to drop off your lighter fluid.
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Visit earth911.com to find a hazardous waste disposal site near you. Go to https://search.earth911.com/?utm_source=earth911-header&utm_medium=top-navigation-menu&utm_campaign=top-nav-recycle-search-button. Type in “lighter fluid” in the “SEARCH FOR” box and your zip code. Then, click the “SEARCH” button to see a list of hazardous waste disposal sites near you.^{[3]
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- Each listing for a hazardous waste disposal site will include the facility’s phone number, address, and web address.
- Click on the name of the disposal facility to see its hours of operation and a list of materials that it accepts.
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Contact local officials to find a hazardous waste collection event. Many communities organize local, one-day events where you can drop off household hazardous waste. Call your local waste management agency or local government office or check their websites, and see if this is an option in your community.^{[4]
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- If you decide to wait for a local collection event to dispose of your lighter fluid, be sure to store the lighter fluid in a safe and sealed location, away from any source of heat.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Transporting Lighter Fluid to a Waste Disposal Site

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Confirm the facility’s hours of operation before going there. Call your local waste collection facility or visit their website to find their hours of operation. Most sites are open 5 or 6 days a week during normal business hours, but specific hours vary by location.^{[6]
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- Check if you have to schedule an appointment to drop off your lighter fluid. Some facilities won’t accept your waste unless you schedule ahead of time.
- You can schedule an appointment at most facilities over the phone.
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Keep the lighter fluid in its original container. Keeping the lighter fluid in its original container will allow the staff at the waste disposal site know what they’re handling and how they should handle it.^{[7]
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- If, for some reason, the lighter fluid is not in its original container, contact your local waste disposal site and ask how they would like you to transport it to their facility.
- Be sure to put a label on the container if it doesn’t already have one.
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Place the lighter fluid container in a cardboard box when transporting it. This will help protect your vehicle from any leaking lighter fluid. You can also place the lighter fluid container in some other type of reusable container.^{[8]
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- Be sure that you secure the box in your vehicle so that it doesn’t shift as you drive.
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Avoid leaving your lighter fluid in your vehicle unattended. Put the lighter fluid in your vehicle just before you leave for the waste disposal site. Don’t leave it in your vehicle as you run other errands.^{[9]
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- Be especially careful when transporting lighter fluid in hot weather.
- Try to keep your lighter fluid out of direct sunlight.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I dump lighter fluid down the drain?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

No, you really shouldn't pour lighter fluid down the drain. In fact, in many places, it's actually illegal. The best way to dispose of it is by taking it to a waste disposal site that accepts hazardous material. To find a household hazardous waste facility near you, just enter the name of your town, city, or county and the phrase “household hazardous waste site” into an online search engine. Look through the results to find one that accepts lighter fluid. Check out their hours of operation and bring the lighter fluid to them when they're open. You may need to schedule an appointment for hazardous materials so be sure to check out their website to see if that's the case. They'll make sure the fluid is properly disposed of so you can rest easy and won't have to worry about getting into any trouble for improperly disposing of it.
Question

How do you transport lighter fluid to the dump?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

If you've found a waste disposal site that accepts lighter fluid, you'll want to keep the lighter fluid in its original container. Keeping the lighter fluid in its original container will allow the staff at the waste disposal site know what they’re handling and how they should handle it. If the lighter fluid is already in a different container, then contact the disposal facility to see how they'd like you to bring it to them. To help protect your vehicle from any leaking fluid, place the container of lighter fluid inside of a cardboard box when you're transporting it. Just make sure the box is stable and won't shift around while you drive and never leave the lighter fluid in your car unattended. The temperature in the car could rise dramatically even after just a few minutes.
Question

Does lighter fluid expire?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

No, not really. Lighter fluid doesn't contain any chemicals that technically expire or go bad. Lighter fluid is made out of either petroleum or alcohol, so if it's kept in an airtight container, it won't really ever go off. However, as soon as the container is opened, the fluid is exposed to the air, which can cause it to evaporate. Over time, it can slowly evaporate and eventually the container could be empty if it's left in one place. But if you come across an old container of lighter fluid and you need to use it, it's most likely good to go!

Warnings

Don’t put lighter fluid, or an empty lighter fluid container, in your garbage or recycling container.

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Avoid dumping lighter fluid down a storm sewer, sink, or any other drain.

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Don’t store lighter fluid in a hot car or near any other source of heat.

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Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions printed on the container’s label when using or storing lighter fluid.

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Don’t mix lighter fluid with other fluids or chemicals.^{[11]
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