What happens if you put Camping gas canisters and butane cartridges in the wrong bin?

Never bin a gas cartridge, even a spent one; compaction ruptures it. Never puncture one indoors or near an ignition source. Never throw one on a fire — this is a genuine explosion, not a pop.

Where do Camping gas canisters and butane cartridges go?

Household waste centre, as gas cylinders — not the metal skip and never a bin, whether or not they feel empty.

Household waste recycling centre

An "empty" butane or propane cartridge holds residual liquefied gas and full pressure, and crushed in a truck or baled with scrap steel it becomes a bomb in a compactor. Household waste centres have a designated cylinder or gas canister point, separate from scrap metal. Some brands operate a return scheme through outdoor shops. Piercing tools exist for the screw-thread cartridges but are only safe used outdoors exactly as instructed, and most sites would rather take the cartridge intact. Which cylinders and cartridges a site will take differs by authority, so check your local one before the trip.

How to prepare it

Take them to the gas point at a household waste centre, not the scrap metal skip.
Transport them upright in a ventilated boot, not in a hot car for hours.

What not to do

Never bin a gas cartridge, even a spent one; compaction ruptures it.
Never puncture one indoors or near an ignition source.
Never throw one on a fire — this is a genuine explosion, not a pop.

Kerbside collection rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always win over general guidance. The reasoning above is what transfers — if your service differs, it will usually be for a reason described here.

Other things that go to household waste recycling centre

Leftover wet paint Household waste centre or a community paint reuse scheme. Liquid paint is not accepted in any household bin.
Car batteries (lead-acid) Garage, scrap yard or household waste centre. Lead-acid is the most successfully recycled consumer product there is.
Used motor oil Household waste centre oil bank, or a garage that accepts it. One container of it contaminates an enormous volume of water.
Small electricals (kettles, toasters, hair dryers) Electrical waste. Household waste centre, a shop take-back point, or a kerbside small-electricals sack if your council runs one.
Pyrex and heat-resistant glassware Never the glass bin. Ovenware is formulated not to melt like bottle glass, and one fragment can ruin a whole batch.
Televisions and monitors WEEE recycling. Old CRT sets contain several kilograms of leaded glass.
CFL energy-saving bulbs Household waste centre or a shop take-back point. They contain mercury and must not be binned.
LED bulbs Small electricals recycling. No mercury, but they are electronics, not glass.
Drinking glasses and wine glasses Not the glass bin. Tableware glass has a different composition from bottle glass.
Smoke alarms Household waste centre or manufacturer return. Ionisation alarms contain a tiny sealed radioactive source.
Crockery, mugs and ceramics Not glass and not recyclable at the kerb. Donate what is whole; broken pieces go to the household waste centre or general waste.
Fluorescent tubes Household waste centre, intact. Mercury inside, and a tube that breaks in transit is a spill.
Fire extinguishers Household waste centre or a fire equipment company. It is pressurised until a professional has discharged it.
Mirrors Household waste centre. The reflective backing means it is not recyclable glass.

Common questions

Where do Camping gas canisters and butane cartridges go?: Household waste centre, as gas cylinders — not the metal skip and never a bin, whether or not they feel empty.
What happens if you put Camping gas canisters and butane cartridges in the wrong bin?: Never bin a gas cartridge, even a spent one; compaction ruptures it. Never puncture one indoors or near an ignition source. Never throw one on a fire — this is a genuine explosion, not a pop.

Where do Leftover wet paint go? Household waste centre or a community paint reuse scheme. Liquid paint is not accepted in any household bin.
Where do Car batteries (lead-acid) go? Garage, scrap yard or household waste centre. Lead-acid is the most successfully recycled consumer product there is.
Where do Used motor oil go? Household waste centre oil bank, or a garage that accepts it. One container of it contaminates an enormous volume of water.
Where do Small electricals (kettles, toasters, hair dryers) go? Electrical waste. Household waste centre, a shop take-back point, or a kerbside small-electricals sack if your council runs one.
Where do Pyrex and heat-resistant glassware go? Never the glass bin. Ovenware is formulated not to melt like bottle glass, and one fragment can ruin a whole batch.
Where do Televisions and monitors go? WEEE recycling. Old CRT sets contain several kilograms of leaded glass.
Where do Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
Where do Lithium-ion batteries go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
Where do Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
Where do Medicines and tablets go? Pharmacy
Where do Pizza boxes go? Kerbside recycling bin
Where do Mobile phones go? Shop or manufacturer take-back

Sources

US Environmental Protection Agency — EPA (Public domain (US Government))

How these figures are compiled and checked