GASCO
Calibration Gas Cylinder Disposal Guidelines
GASCO
Affiliates, LLC is a leading supplier of environmental
and industrial safety calibration gases, which are
packaged mainly in disposable cylinders for ease of
use, portability, and no demurrage fees to customers.
Because
most cylinders are non-refillable, they must meet
requirements set forth in the Department of Transportation’s
Part 39 Regulations. Part 39 prohibits us from filling
these cylinders with toxic gases. In fact, all GASCO
mixtures are considered non-poisonous. With few exceptions,
all are also non flammable mixtures.
GASCO
cylinders ship as hazardous material. This is due
to the inherent danger of compressed gas and not from
a chemical hazard. Once the cylinders are relieved
of pressure they are NOT considered hazardous material
or waste. Nearly all GASCO mixtures contain only a
very small amount of a hazardous chemical(s) as a
minor component in the gas mixture requested. The
fact that it is such a small amount (usually in the
ppm range) always precludes the gas mixture from ever
being classified as hazardous.
For
disposal of used cylinders, it is acceptable to place
them in a landfill. In reality, they present no danger
to the environment. The cylinders contain absolutely
no liquid residue and are clean internally as required
for gas mixture stability. As an example for comparison,
a typical household cylinder of propane (for camping,
torch, etc.) or an empty spray paint aerosol would
contain enough residual to be of far greater environmental
concern than simply the loss of recyclable metal in
the container.
We
recommend recycling cylinders. We will do this for
any customer that wishes to return empty cylinders
to us. Scrapping cylinders involves some preparation
before a metal dealer may accept them. This may include
removing the valve and/or piercing the side wall.
Because harmful residue pressure may still be present
in a cylinder assumed empty, we never advise a customer
to do this preparation work. We perform this operation
as a service to our valued customers who want to participate.
After
verifying that the cylinder is empty, PLEASE Denote
on the Label: “Empty”
Mail
to:
Gasco, Inc.
320 Scarlet Boulevard • Oldsmar, FL 34677
Phone: 800-910-0051 • Fax 866-755-8920
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