Propane Tank Recycling Facts

Top 10 Things to Know About Propane Tank Refilling & Recycling 

1. You cannot refill single-use propane tanks and transport them on a public roadway. Doing so is a violation of 49 U.S.C. 5124 and is punishable by up to a $500,000 fine and five years imprisonment. Devices sold for refilling single-use propane tanks do not exempt ANYONE from the above regulation.
2. Little Kamper manufactures DOT-approved 1 lb propane tanks designed to be refillable through our retailer exchange program, similar to standard 20 lb BBQ tanks, and built for long-term reuse.
3. Many of the single-use propane tanks 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.
4. The collection, transportation, hazardous waste processing, and recycling of just one discarded single-use propane tank can cost as much as three times the retail price of a single tank.
5. U.S. taxpayers pay for this recycling, even though sales taxes from the tanks are inadequate to fund the process.
6. Manufacturers produce and sell an estimated 40 million single-use (DOT 39) propane tanks in North America each year.
7. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) certifies propane tanks that meet requirements for transporting propane on public roads.
8. Few companies safely process discarded single-use tanks because they often still contain unused propane.
9. Communities that lack the funds to properly recycle their propane tanks often leave them to rust in landfills.
10. 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.