Propane Cylinder Recycling Facts
The problem with dark green, single-use cylinders
They’re meant to be thrown away
You may think they’re recyclable but the cost of collecting, transporting, and recycling one of those dark green cylinders is higher than the price you pay to buy one in a big box store.
You may think they’re refillable.
Truth is, they’re not.
In fact, refilling a dark green 1 lb propane tank and transporting it on a public roadway is illegal. The punishment can include fines of up to $500,000.00 and up to five years in prison.
And that’s printed on the side of the tank label.
Here are the facts.
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Accessibility Statement
Top 10 Things to Know About Propane Cylinder Refilling & Recycling
- Single-use propane cylinders may not be refilled and carried over a public roadway. Doing so is a violation of 49 U.S.C. 5124 and punishable by up to $500,000 fine and five years imprisonment. Devices that are sold for the purpose of refilling single use-propane tanks do not exempt ANYONE from the above regulation.
- The Little Kamper is specifically designed and approved by the DOT as a refillable 1 lb. cylinder, just like the 20 lb. BBQ tanks. They are built to be reused and can last for years.
- Many of the single-use propane cylinders that are discarded in the U.S. are not empty and can explode or ignite a fire when compressed in compactors, garbage trucks, or automated waste processing systems.
- The collection, transportation, hazardous waste processing, and recycling of a discarded single-use propane cylinder can cost as much as three times the retail cost of the cylinder.
- U.S. taxpayers and ratepayers pay for this recycling, despite the fact that sales taxes from the cylinders are inadequate as a funding source for the process.
- It is estimated that over 40 million single-use propane cylinders (DOT 39) are manufactured and sold in North America every year.
- Propane tanks are certified by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) if they are designed for transporting propane over public roadways.
- Few companies offer safe processing of discarded single-use cylinders to capture the unused propane that is frequently left in the tanks.
- Communities that do not have the funds to pay for proper recycling of their propane cylinders frequently leave them to rust in landfills.
- Propane is non-toxic and cannot contaminate soil or water. Propane vapor is heavier than air and can settle in low-lying spaces like basements or ponds.
Buy in – and stop throwing out!
When you buy a Little Kamper, you’ll become a part of a community of people who know that protecting the environment is everyone’s job.
Just buy, enjoy, and exchange. It’s that easy!
Learn About Little Kamper Cylinders