Free reusable propane cylinder giveaway this month in Barstow
The Mojave Desert & Mountain Recycling Authority sponsors a free reusable 1-pound propane cylinder giveaway this month while supplies last.
High Desert residents can pick up a free reusable/refillable 1-pound propane cylinder at the U-Haul Moving & Storage of Barstow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 10 at 800 East Main Street.
To receive a free reusable propane cylinder, residents must simply sign a pledge to no more extended use single-use 1lb propane cylinders.
This event is being sponsored by the Mojave Desert & Mountain Recycling Authority in cooperation with the City of Barstow and the California Product Stewardship Council.
Funding for the event is being provided through a grant from CalRecycle, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
There is a limit of one free reusable cylinder per household. For more information about the event, call the City of Barstow Waste Management and Recycling Division at 760-255-5126.
Cylinder use, safe disposal
One-pound propane gas cylinders are widely used to power various devices, including camping stoves, portable heaters, lanterns, portable showers, boat engines, scooters, and lawn care equipment.
Although they are convenient for consumers, single-use cylinders cause problems when it is time to dispose of them.
Single-use disposable propane cylinders should be taken to a local household hazardous waste collection center for proper, safe disposal.
Some parks and campgrounds have also set up separate collection bins for propane cylinders.
Many single-use propane cylinders are improperly put into trash or recycling bins, which can potentially cause fires or explosions if crushed or compacted in collection vehicles or at recycling centers.
When disposed of adequately cylinders at a household hazardous waste center, they are very costly to handle, usually $2 to $25 per container to transport, recover excess gas, and finally recycle the cylinder for scrap metal. Local governments and parks end up paying these disposal costs.
Joshua Tree National Park disposes of over 700 unwanted single-use 1-pound cylinders each week from the park campgrounds at the cost of several thousands of dollars.
The Victor Valley Materials Recovery Facility serves High Desert and San Bernardino Mountain residents and has seen fires likely caused by exploding canisters within waste management facilities.
Single-use 1-pound propane cylinders should not be refilled, as regulated by the US Department of Transportation, to prevent injury and fire hazards.
Barstow residents may dispose of unwanted 1-pound propane cylinders free from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility 900 S. H Avenue in Barstow.
Additional household hazardous waste collection centers are available in surrounding High Desert communities. Call San Bernardino County Fire at 800-645-9228 for more information on the hours and locations of other household hazardous waste centers.
The Mojave Desert and Mountain Recycling Authority, in collaboration with the ReFuel Your Fun! & $ave campaign, received a CalRecycle grant to educate residents on safely handling 1-pound propane cylinders and the benefits of reusables to save money and reduce hazardous waste.
By switching to reusable, refillable 1-pound propane cylinders, residents can save money, reduce waste, reduce disposal costs, and save resources.
There are several locations in the High Desert to refill or exchange reusable propane cylinders, including the U-Haul in Barstow.
Also, the U-Haul at 14598 Palmdale Road and 15811 Lorene Drive in Victorville, Apex Rental in Victorville, Vagabond Welding in Yucca Valley, and the Mobil Station in 29 Palms (exchange).
For a complete list of locations and addresses that can refill or exchange 1-pound propane cylinders, go to www.refuelyourfun.org, or contact Info@calpsc.org
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Free reusable propane cylinder giveaway this month in Barstow
