Kane County Offers Summer Recycling Tips for Propane Tanks, Air Conditioners and Dehumidifiers
There's nothing quite like a summer cookout. Frequent grillers are likely used to the process of exchanging empty 20lb. propane tanks for full ones at hardware stores, grocery stores, gas stations, and other suppliers. But what happens if you retire your grill or are moving house and want to return a propane tank without getting a new one right away? Propane tanks can contain explosive vapors, even when they stop releasing fuel. They should never be put in regular trash or recycling due to the risk of starting fires in collection trucks or at facilities.
Most retail vendors will take empty 20 lb. tanks for recycling if they have an empty spot in their propane cage to put it in. Propane supplier Blue Rhino describes this process on their website, and advises that people returning unwanted tanks should write “recycle" in permanent marker on the top of the tank. It may be worth calling ahead to see if there is an empty slot in the vendor's cage before making a trip. Propane tanks can also be disposed of through household hazardous waste (HHW) programs. The Naperville HHW Site, open every weekend, accepts propane tanks up to 20 lbs. Kane County's HHW home collection program, available in certain areas, includes collection of propane tanks, but they must be in DOT-shippable condition, meaning they can't be more than 12 years old (unless they have been recertified) and they must have a valve with a functional overfill protection device (OPD).
There are some additional recycling options for 16 oz. propane tanks used for camping. Kane County and eWorks work with the local company Flat Can Recycling to collect these for recycling at the Fabyan Parkway Recycling Center. Flat Can also accepts them at their warehouse in Elburn. There is recycling fee of $4 per tank for these items. Please note that neither Kane County or Flat Can Recycling accept 20 lb. (grill sized) propane tanks for recycling.
Another summer recycling mystery is what to do with a broken or unwanted window/portable air conditioning or dehumidifier. Due to the regulated refrigerant chemicals contained in these items, they are not allowed to be landfilled as garbage until the refrigerant is recovered by a certified technician. They are also not accepted by most electronic and metal scrap facilities, including Kane County's Recycling Centers. For residents with curbside waste service through a municipal or township contract, generally the easiest thing to do is to check with the municipality or waste hauler see what services are offered for white goods. “White good" is a waste industry term that refers to any household appliance containing environmentally damaging components, and includes fridges, freezers, ice makers, water coolers, A/C units and dehumidifiers.
Proper disposal of these items is somewhat trickier for people living in apartments. The business Elgin Recycling, with locations in Elgin and Gilberts, allows drop-off of refrigerant-containing devices for a fee. HVAC companies also retain certified technicians on staff who can recover refrigerant from any appliance and provide a certificate of recovery. Commercial metal and electronic recyclers will usually accept appliances accompanied by a certificate for recycling at no charge.
For more information about Kane County Recycles go to https://www.kanecountyil.gov/recycling
