1lb propane tanks

[Zorba]

Getting ready for the upcoming season and I realized I have a large number of spent 1lb propane tanks to dispose of. Can these just go in the trash, or is there a more environmentally conscious way of getting rid of them. What are you folks doing with all of your used ones?

[RebelSS]

Zorba: Don't throw those in the trash!!!!!! They can be highly explosive if recycled wrong! (Burned in an incinerator)

I would contact your city or county recycling center...that's where I have to take mine in my city. I just turn them all in at the end of the season.

[gvg_uwec]

If you buy a new Coleman 1# bottle for this season, they come with something they call a green key, or something like that. The key lets you vent out the last propane that is trapped in the bottle after it wont lite in your heater anymore. After that the label on the coleman bottles say you can just recycle them like any other steel container. Of course Coleman has made this to fit their own bottles only as far as i can tell, just an idea for future purchases.

[Phred52]

I take them out into the gravel pit and shoot 'em with armor piercing rounds in the AK-47. DON'T worry, I'm shooting from about 150 yds. But when they blow...they blow good!!! Phred52

[ameyers41]

Check your county HSOforum to see if they have a recycling center. Hennepin county accepts 1lbers at their Bloomington facility.

[Carpenter]

What about the thing you can buy to fill them from the 20# tanks? Anyone use that before? I'd much rather put two 1# tanks in my big buddy than lug that 20# tank and hose around.

[Phred52]

Don't get a 20# , get a 5#. I've got one of the refill adaptors. They work, to an extent. Inconsistant refills is the biggest drawback. If you spend ALOT of time refilling, you can coax about a lb into the tanks. Phred52

[Brad B]

I have heard someplace that it is against federal D.O.T. regulations to transport a refilled 1lb disposable container. yet there are places that sell the adapter to do it. I think it is a safety issue that they worry about, but don't know for sure.

[gvg_uwec]

It is illegal to transport a refilled 1# tank, you can refill them and use them at home but as soon as its transported its illegal. These bottles have valves that are really only made to be used once, Yes its cheaper to refill but you have the risk of a leak that can cause serious injury if ignited. If you go through that many bottles, get a 5, 11, or 20 lb that are meant to be refilled over and over.

[Finlander]

My brother had the fun job of seperating garbage at the sanitaion facility in Alexandria and he said they take the 1lb. tanks out and dispose of them properly there.

So he told to me just throw them in the garbage like any other garbage.

[stifler51]

thats the downfall of 1# tanks. why doesnt someone come out with a refillable 1#ers, with a valve made to refill. id rather pay 4-5x as much for one with a valve to reuse.

[Brad B]

stifler51 I agree with you. if they can make 5Lb refillables why not a 1Lb.

[merkman]

If you wanna pay to have them recycled try your city recycler or google cylinderdisposal.com

The place in NY seems to be the most environmentally and business savvy. They capture the unused propane and rebottle it. All while charging you, then reselling the steel and recycled propane.

You can get the coleman Green Key® tool on line at the coleman site also. I think they are 6 for a buck. They fit all tanks with the 1lb connection.. they just are not marketed that way

Don't try this at home.

As a matter of fact don't try this.

I take them outside, make sure the tank is completley empty, and hit them on the side with an old ice chisel to put a big gash in the side of them then I take them to my local recycling place.

They don't give me anything for them but at least they are recycled and they don't charge me.

If you don't like standing that close to the cylinder then take them out in the woods and shoot them with your 22 from a safe distance.

Truth be known; that is how many recyclers depressurize them.

These cylinders are allot safer than you would think.

[crothmeier]

i refill mine about 5 times, then recycle properly. over 5 times they seem to want to leak. if you refill them right, you can get close to 1lb in regularly. i mark a line with sharpie on the top of the bottle every time i refill so i know when they have been refilled 5 times.

how do they know which ones have been refilled. (besides my tick marks)

[Phred52]

gvg_uwec, YOU ARE CORRECT!!! If you're transporting them in a COMMERCIAL VEHICLE. Private transportation, you're on your own. Otherwise, Just take 'em out, BLOW 'em up, and recycle the remains. REFILLABLE 1#'s, Could you imagine waiting in line to have your 1# cylinder refilled at the 'pump'!!?? It would be a) like going into a gas station for $.50 worth of gas in your vehicle, OR Spending as much FOR that 1# refill as it would cost to fill a 5#er!! Neither is a very appealing picture, is it?? Phred52

[Woody3]

It is legal to transport refilled 1lber's just not across state lines. I've got some that have been filled well over 20 times. The key to getting them full is to start with a warm 20lb and a freezing cold 1lb. Sometimes you have to fill the 1lb partially and throw it back in the freezer, then fill again. I've accidentally turned a 1lb into a 2lb a few times it works so well. I always put a drop of oil on the valve after I fill them and rarely have them leak. If they do leak you can usually just bump the schrader valve once or twice with a small screw driver and they quit leaking. It doesn't take to much time and it sure beats spending $3 on new tanks. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to weigh a new one on a postage scale and try to match that weight when you re-fill.

[Phred52]

Thanks Woody3, Welcome to the forum! Lots of GOOD people with advice and experience! I knew there was another provision on those 1# tanks, just couldn't remember just what it was. Phred52

[crothmeier]

woody does exactly what i do when refilling with the cold vs warm tanks.