Gasoline is extremely flammable and is one of the most dangerous substances found in residential dwellings.  Gasoline should never be poured down the drain, on the ground, or thrown in the trash.  Improper storage and disposal can be a health, environmental and safety hazard.  Below are helpful guidelines for safe residential storage and disposal.

Leftover Gasoline

The best way to handle leftover gasoline is to:

• Use it in your car or gasoline powered equipment
• Give it to someone who can use it in their car or gasoline powered equipment 

Home Chemical Collection Centers

If you are unable to use the gas in your car or gasoline powered equipment or give it away for such use, you may dispose of your gasoline at one of the Miami-Dade County Home Chemical Collections Centers (HCC).  The centers will accept a maximum of 10 gallons (2-five gallon containers) per customer in approved containers.  The gasoline must be left in its container with the center technician.  The Department will recycle the flammable materials through the contract vendor.

The Centers are located in West Dade at 8831 NW 58th Street and in South Dade at 23707 SW 97th Avenue, Gate-B.  Normal hours of operations are Wednesday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Gasoline Storage

• Store gasoline in an airtight approved storage container, holding 5 gallons or less, like the red plastic gasoline cans sold at hardware stores, or approved metal gasoline cans.
• If possible, store gasoline in a cool, dry, ventilated and secure area entirely separate from the house, such as a shed or detached garage.
• Do not store near appliances such as clothes dryers, or water pumps.
• Store well away from generators and cars
• Keep gasoline containers out of reach from children and pets to prevent accidental poisoning.  Make sure containers have child resistant caps.
• Storage in one and two family dwellings is limited to a total of 25 gallons.  In a two-family dwelling, the 25 gallons are per structure, not per family. 
• Storage within the building is limited to rooms with fire-rated separation from the rest of the structure, such as a garage or a storage room opening to the outside only.  There must not be any gas water heater or air handler equipment for the rest of the building in this garage or room.

For more details on household hazardous waste and disposal, please visit the Home Chemical Collection Centers or call 311.