Hazardous Waste Management in BC

Coleman Canada Offers New Device to Facilitate Diversion, Recycling of Non-Refillable Propane Cylinders  

The ubiquitous green cylinders are familiar to campers all over North America and to almost anyone else who has used a portable, propane-powered cooking, heating or lighting device outside. However, unlike their large bulk tank cousins, these small single-trip cylinders are not refillable, and when disposed of, most have found their way to landfill waste sites. With the Green Key tool, Coleman Canada, a Division of Sunbeam Corporation (Canada) Ltd., provides consumers with the opportunity to assist in the recycling of every cylinder.

In Canada sealed propane cylinders are classified as a hazardous waste, no matter how much or how little fuel they contain. However, after the user has purged a cylinder by using it on an appliance until the fuel supply is exhausted, and after a Green Key tool is inserted into the cylinder valve, the interior of the cylinder is permanently opened to the atmosphere and – after a short period of time -- there is no longer any pressure or flammable vapour remaining.

"By educating consumers, parks, municipalities and the recycling industry, we want to make the Green Key tool an easily recognized symbol that a propane cylinder is open, has no propane left in it and, therefore, provides the opportunity for it to be transported, handled and recycled as scrap metal," said Darrell Neugebauer, Coleman's director of burning appliances and fuels.

Because cylinders without Green Key tools are hazardous waste, municipalities will require the ability to separate vented cylinders from other cylinders before they can accept them in curbside collection. Until these concerns are addressed, municipalities may use other methods of collection that will allow them to divert vented cylinders for immediate sale so that they can benefit from their value as scrap metal.

Coleman is offering technical and other assistance to municipalities in Canada to assist them in developing curbside collection programs that will accept the vented cylinders. "Coleman and other manufacturers combined produce millions of single-trip propane cylinders annually, creating a tremendous opportunity for a new source of recycled steel," Neugebauer said. "With the Green Key tool, we hope that propane cylinder recycling eventually will become as routine as steel can recycling. In the meantime, consumers may be interested to know that Coleman's propane cylinders -- like many other steel products on the market today – are made with an average minimum of 25 percent recycled content."

Beginning in June 2008, the Green Key tool will be packaged inside the cap of most Coleman-branded propane cylinders and soon after will be available at select sporting goods and camping equipment retailers in Canada. Cylinders with the Green Key tool included will be clearly marked, so consumers will know which propane cylinders come with the tool. The Green Key tools also will be sold separately, in packages of six. Consumers can find participating retailers at http://www.colemancanada.ca