“Dear Red Phone, I while back you ran an item about where to dispose of unwanted empty propane canisters, but I can’t seem to find it on your website. Can you help?”
Red Phone: Dear Can You Help, Red Phone would be delighted.
Empty single-use propane canisters, like the kind used for camping lanterns, camp stoves and small barbecues, cannot be safely refilled and should be handled as household hazardous waste, according to Program Administrator Anthony Eulo.
“This is also true for the small canisters used in plumbing torches and small oxygen tanks. All of these canisters create serious hazards when put in the trash or recycling and have been known to explode during handling. The city and Santa Clara County participate in the Countywide Household Hazardous Waste Management Program which offers local events monthly for residents to drop-off their hazardous waste at no charge. Residents can preregister at www.hhw.org or by calling 299-7300.
Wastes accepted at these events include:
– Flammables (paints, dry or wet, petroleum based products, and polishes)
– Corrosives (acids, bases, batteries, and drain clog remover)
– Toxics (poisons, pesticides, gardening chemicals, ammonia, and solvents)
n Oxidizers (pool chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and perchlorates)
– Biohazards (prescription drugs and used sharps/syringes/needles/lancets)
– Misc. (propane, helium, small oxygen tanks, and smoke detectors)
There you have it, good caller. Hope that helps.
Drive carefully on rural roads
“Red Phone, can you remind readers to travel slowly on our rural roads. Recently, I saw a truck hit a deer, and it was quite disturbing as it took some time for the deer to finally die. Please remember that deer and other wild animals criss-cross our roads constantly. We must be vigilant and aware of our surroundings. It’s nice living here and admiring the wild animals in the area. Let’s try to coexist with them as much as possible so we can all enjoy their beauty.”
Red Phone: Dear Remind Readers. You just did, and very well. Thanks.
