Free Propane Gas Cylinders Available In Beaumont For 1 Day Only

The following is an Aug. 14, 2024, joint press release from the County of Riverside and the California Product Stewardship Council:

BEAUMONT, CA — Californians have regularly used 1 lb. propane gas cylinders for outdoor grills, heaters, and lighting. Now, Riverside County residents can save money by purchasing and refilling reusable 1 lb. propane cylinders in their area.

On Friday, August 16 from 9 am – 1 pm, Riverside County residents can pick up a FREE reusable 1 lb. propane cylinder when they visit Beaumont Home Center (1538 E 6th St, Beaumont, CA 92223) and sign the pledge to stop using single-use 1 lb. propane cylinders. The free cylinders are limited to one per household, while supplies last.

"Events like this one will help our residents make the switch from single-use to refillable propane cylinders," said Riverside County Department of Waste Resources Environmental Compliance Manager, Lisa Thompson, “and that could make a world of difference to our future waste stream.”

Californians use an estimated four million single use cylinders each year. When purchasing a single-use 1 lb. propane cylinder, approximately 80% of the cost is for the package. Reusable cylinders can be refilled more than a hundred times and can last for more than 10 years. After the initial purchase of the cylinder, customers can pay for the gas refill when empty or take the empty cylinder back to the nearest exchange location to swap for a filled cylinder.

Propane cylinders are designated by the State of California as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and are illegal to be thrown away in the trash. They must be taken to a designated drop-off facility or collection receptacle. Single-use cylinders that are disposed of improperly can cause harm to the environment, while reusable 1 lb. propane cylinders can be refilled repeatedly and properly recycled after years of use.

Riverside County is promoting the award winning ReFuel Your Fun & $ave! campaign, which encourages the use of reusable 1 lb. propane cylinders over the costly and wasteful single-use cylinders. The campaign also educates about proper collection and recycling of 1 lb. propane cylinders. For more information about the campaign, recycling empty cylinders, and to find more retailers offering reusables, visit www.refuelyourfun.org.

This program is funded by a grant from CalRecycle.