Disposal of 1lb tanks ?

[Hookey]

I did not want to Hijack a previous thread on 1 lb tanks but it is a well established fact that most of the safer heaters we use for ice fishing will shut down before they empty a 1 lb tank.

I believe it is illegal to transport refilled tanks and it is also illegal to dispose of a 1 lb tank that is not empty and that is why I do not use them. They simply create a safety hazard for the those that use them and those that have to deal with trash. I only need so many 1/2 full tanks laying around the garage waiting to be used as fuel for a torch.

So what are people doing with all of these partially empty tanks besides leaving them on the lakes. (sorry)

[DeeJ]

I'm assuming I missed an earlier post on the amount of LP left in these and I don't have the scientific background to prove you wrong, but I can tell you when I give mine the shake test before throwing them away that there is NOWHERE NEAR half of the tank left. If you're ending up with half-full tanks, your equipment is likely broken. Plus you're getting hosed on LP costs

Annoying Sidebar: I can also assure you and all readers that the tanks don't leave themselves on the ice. It's obvious I know, but to see it shrugged off on many threads as "Oh there go those 1-lb tanks again" I think is at least irresponsible and probably counter-productive. It's your neighbor, or theirs. Not the tanks though. Hauling a 10 or 20 pound tank around is just not necessary for many folks. Sorry. It's the highest-margin tank they sell - They're not going away.

[Hookey]

I have no doubt that most people here would be more apt to pickup a tank found on the lake rather than leave one out there.

I simply do not like the whole idea of disposable tanks. I am sure most of us recycle our paper, our plastic, our soup cans and our aluminum cans. Recycling takes much more work then carrying a 5 or ten pound refillable tank out fishing a few times a year but we all recycle so whats the big deal about using a light refillable tank ?

I do not feel right about throwing a bomb into the landfill simply because it is lighter for me to carry on the lake in fact I do not feel right about throwing a totally empty tank in the landfill but that is my deal.

There are lighter refillable tanks available and the money you save by not buying 1 lb tanks will pay for the tank in short order. While many people do refill the tanks they do end up in a landfill sooner or later.

I do not mean to preach and understand that many people like these tanks but if you use many of them you may want reconsider.

It seems that if the pounder tanks are cold they lose pressure and the heater shuts down. This has happened on my Buddies and on my sunflower heaters. Take them home and they will run a torch for quite a while once they warm up. So while they are not empty they are useless as far as the heater is concerned and it is not legal or safe to throw them away. So what is being done with them ? The shake test is good but I would be willing to bet if you hook a torch to them you will still find gas in them.

[Surface Tension]

Recyclers won't take them.

Empty the 1lber and throw it in the trash.

If you feel comfortable enough to remove the release valve AFTER the tank is empty go for it but do so outside.

[rmb]

i was a little concerned with that so i stopped my garbage guy down in lakeville late last fall and asked him. i was told that recycling them is fine as long as they have a green key valve release machanism inserted into them.

the coleman 1 lb tanks come with them and you can buy a bag of them to use in other brand 1lb tanks for a couple bucks. They permanently open the valve and release all unburnt fuel. of course this should only be done outside in an open area.

if we are going to go down the trail of we shouldn't use these because a 5 or 10 lb tank can be refilled and used over and over then i suggest that you start dragging around a pony keg instead of a couple of six packs since that can be refilled over and over too without recycling costs.

[bikeoutback]

What I would like to know then is how many 1lb tanks are people carrying with them? When I used them I never hit the ice with less than 3 and usually 4 or 5 just in case. I use an 11lb propane tank now and still carry 2 1lb as backup. If 1lb tanks are the lightweight way to go but you have to take 3 or 4 of them why not just get a 5lb propane tank and a hose?

I switched off 1lb tanks cause I thought it was just throwing money away since I can fill a 20lb tank by my house for under $15.

[rmb]

never more than 2. a lb of propane has a little over 91,000 btu's per pound. conservatively say you only get 80 percent of that so call it 72,800 per tank. in my buddy heater on high it's rated at 9,000 per hour. that works out to 8 hours on high. i have never had to run it on high all day but i could for 16 hours with two tanks.

i'm not saying everybody should do it. but for those of us that walk everywhere we do try to say ever extra lb possible. pulling around 60 plus pounds of gear by hand is not fun. I own a small pancake tank as well but haven't used it in years. the weight of an empty 5 lb tank is 10 pounds. now throw in a couple of pounds of lp and it's 12 lbs plus a hose. a typical 1lb tank is about 2 lb full. so call it 4. that's roughly an 8lb difference.

[Surface Tension]

I thought Coleman discontinued the green key because recyclers wouldn't take them.

It would be nice to recycle them. IMO its a waste to throw them away.

[Hookey]

I spoke with Waste Management and they do not accept 1lb tanks as recyclable as the drivers do not sort through the recyclables and look for tanks let alone check and see if they have the 'Green Key' installed or determine if they have been purged. Makes sense.

Coleman Corp discontinued their Green Key program as it was not accepted by most recyclers. Google Coleman Green Key for the following:

In 2009, The Coleman Company included a Green Key® tool with each of our propane canisters. We used the Green Key® program as a way to increase empty propane canister recycling. Unfortunately, the program was not accepted by many recycling agencies across the country. As a result, the Green Key® tool will no longer be included with the purchase of our Coleman® propane cylinders.

They do offer instructions on how to purge the tanks for those who want to throw them in the trash. Odds are that is where they will end up anyways.

[SkunkedAgain]

If you live in Hennepin County, you can recycle 1lb tanks at the Bloomington recycling drop-off center. Other counties may recycle them too. Here is what I found on the Hennepin County HSOforum:

Quote:

Includes: Butane (1-pound size), Propane (1-pound size)

Accepted At These Hennepin County Facilities. Proof of residency required (MN drivers license or current utility bill).

* Bloomington Drop-off Facility

No Fee

Small 1-pound butane and propane non-refillable cylinders only (look for DOT-39 on the label).

Note: Do not throw tanks or cylinders in the trash, and do not attempt to puncture the cylinder.

Because gas cylinders and tanks contain a compressed gas, if they are thrown in the trash they can explode and cause injury to solid waste workers. Although a tank may seem empty, a small amount of explosive gas remains even when it no longer supports a flame.

[LightningBG]

[Surface Tension]

Thanks for that information on places that will take them.

Lets keep adding to that list and I'll put it all together in a neat file and save it.

[Big Tom]

For Sherburne County:

Propane Tanks

Contact your local propane supplier for drop-off opportunities. Do not place gas cylinders or tanks in the garbage.

The following business also accepts gas cylinders and tanks:

Resource Recovery Technologies

10700 165th Avenue NW

Elk River, MN 55330

(763) 441-3800

No charge for the empties and this is less than 1/2 mile East off HWY 10 just southeast of 169.

[croixflats]

Lightning Washington County was a little blurry

Public Health and Environment

Environmental Center

Washington County’s Environmental Center provides residents with a free and convenient disposal option for household hazardous waste, electronics, and recyclables.

Location & Hours

4039 Cottage Grove Drive

Woodbury MN 55129

Map

Tuesdays: Noon - 7 p.m.

Thursdays: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Saturdays: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

[MNmikew]

I "ventilate" all my empty 1 lb'ers with the .45 before they go in the recycle bin.