NEEPS

wildgarlic

As the summer season of barbecues and camping holidays is under way, Aberdeenshire Council is issuing a plea to householders not to dump gas canisters in their refuse bins. Crushed gas cylinder

A potentially lethal accident was narrowly avoided earlier this month when an Inverurie resident left a full LPG propane gas cylinder in their wheeled refuse bin.

As general refuse is compacted to reduce transport journeys and storage space, the cylinder was crushed and its presence only noticed when gas began to escape from the refuse vehicle itself.

Claire Loney, principal waste officer said: "The gas could easily have ignited as it escaped from the cylinder, causing injury or even death. Leaving a full LPG gas cylinder in a refuse bin was a reckless and highly dangerous act.

“General refuse, unlike recycling, cannot be sorted at our premises so items like this are far from obvious to members of staff.

“It was fortunate that there were no sparks or naked flames at the time that the cylinder was crushed and punctured.”

Councillor Peter Argyle, chairman of the Infrastructure Services Committee, said: “The fact that the canister did not ignite, I think, can only be put down to luck. The results of an explosion like this could have been devastating.

“I am asking all residents in Aberdeenshire to please be aware of what they are putting into their refuse bin, and to make sure that anything they are disposing of is done in the correct manner.

“If you are unsure, please double check and don’t just throw it out.”

Anyone who would like advice on how to properly dispose of gas canisters, or would like guidance on what items can and cannot be put in their refuse bin should phone the Wasteline on 0845 600 3900.

LPG gas cylinders and similar hazardous pressurised items such as oxygen
cylinders and fire extinguishers can be safely recycled at the councils Household Waste and Recycling Centres.

These are shown as 'pressurised containers’ in the list of recyclable materials shown on the Aberdeenshire Council website.

Details of Household Waste & Recycling Centres accepting pressurised
containers are listed on the council's website at
www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/waste or you can call the Wasteline on 0845 600 3900.
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Smooth Hound · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject:

you would have to be pretty daft, , but saying that, i bet they get a few in the bins at picnic areas, and beaches etc.

lachlanandmarcus · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject:

Thats unbelievably stupid of someone to put that in the bin, really amazed!

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Julie · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject:

If it was the kind you can get a refund on the empty then it was even more daft. The big cylinders are worth a lot of money.
If you're talking the aerosol kind, the council waste dept told me that it is ok to put them into the recycling as long as you have expelled all the gasses. Just to clarify - I am speaking of furniture polish, hairspray, deodorant cans etc.
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wildgarlic · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:53 pm Post subject:

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1332524 for more info
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Smooth Hound · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject:

what a damned idiot,

baldowrie · Neepster Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 1159

what a twit, obviously has more money than sense too!

The council should have taken action and fined him

Julie · Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject:

Definitely, there would be a decent refund on the deposit from that one. We have two of the large red propane cylinders for our gas hob. They work out cheaper than the smaller size to refill. I'm not sure if you need the initial contract to get the refund though. We needed ours when we took back the butane one from the caravan. I think it was around fifteen pounds at the time and that was a decade ago.
Even without the contract, it would still have a resale value.
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Smooth Hound · Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject:

yea this is the problem the contract bit, it used to be you could take them to any calor seller and get a refund , but now if you havent got the original purchae thingy, they wont/cant take it. which is silly really as its best they get them back rather than being thrown in the bin , or left sitting around for yrs:-? but i expec theres a reason for it

Julie · Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject:

They will only pay the deposit you actually paid at the time of rental rather than the current value. Maybe that's why?
It wouldn't stop someone from selling it on though, nobody ever asks to see your contract if you go for a refill, they just want an empty bottle from you.
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