Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists
Propane Tanks In the Backcountry - ABR Position ... January 8, 2009 ... ABR News Item
Backcountry recreationalists use a variety of fuels for cooking purposes. Along with firewood in fire-pits, naptha or "white gas" in camp-stoves is most often used. Stoves utilizing this fuel typically use a built-in tank and/or re-useable free-standing tanks for storage of their fuel.
However, a substantial number of backcountry recreationalists use propane fuel for cooking purposes. This tends, for the most part, to be a continuation of having originally used it in drive-in campgrounds. Stoves utilizing this fuel typically use pressurized "single-use" green, 16.4 ounce tanks. Unfortunately, there are increasing instances of these tanks being abandoned in Algonquin Park's backcountry.
The increase in the abandonment of these tanks appears to coincide with Algonquin Park no longer accepting propane tanks at any of their waste processing facilities. In the past, the disposal of propane tanks has been a great expense for Ontario Parks, due to the waste residual gas content being deemed hazardous waste and having to be disposed of through a special and costly procedure. In keeping with the park's recently adopted cost-cutting "pack it in, take it home" policy, it is now required that backcountry recreationalists' propane tanks be taken home along with the rest of their garbage.
Municipal garbage collection agencies have also been treating these discarded propane tanks as hazardous materials, requiring residents to take them to their local hazardous waste facility.
Of those backcountry recreationalists who use propane tanks, there is unfortunately a number who through laziness abandon their empty tanks in the backcountry, rather than transport them home and take them to their local hazardous waste disposal facility.
Resultingly, some recreationalists favour an outright ban of the pressurized "single-use" green, 16.4 ounce propane tanks in Algonquin Park's backcountry. However, others consider them a safe and convenient alternative .. specially for young campers, for whom loose liquid fuel may have dangerous potential.
Besides the backcountry's official "pack it in, take it home" garbage policy, the Highway 60 corridor has its new "MOLOK" (Algonquin Parks Integrated Waste Management) system of waste diversion. While a few of the interior access points located along Highway 60) may incidentally benefit from its new waste diversion receptacles, it is primarily a highway parking lot and drive-in campground program.
The park's waste management contractor, the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre, has its own website describing Algonquin Park's "MOLOK" system .. www.ovwrc.com/AP . The "MOLOK" system deals with 4 separate streams of waste .. Paper Recycling, Container Recycling, Organics and Garbage. The green propane tanks have not been accepted in the system's "Container Recycling" due to their Hazardous Waste aspects.
Shayne Hartin (of the Town of Markham Waste Management Program) has informed the ABR that even there, where the Coleman Green Key Initiative has recently been tried and adopted, empty propane tanks still aren't accepted in the "Blue Box Program". Residents are required to take the tanks to any one of their four recycling depots as a "bulk metal resource", rather than to their one hazardous waste depot. Green keys are available at these depots for residents to insert, if they don't already have them. Should the Coleman Green Key Initiative eventually become recognized by the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre, there's no reason to believe they will allow the "green-keyed" propane tanks to be "collected" in their "Container Recycling" MOLOKS.
Also, Adrian Schollen (a consultant for the Coleman Company) has advised the ABR that they are currently assisting Recyc-Quebec in setting up a field test project for Quebec Provincial Parks. Their intent is to capture empty cylinders vented with Green Keys at the parks for recycling and eventual sale as scrap. Recyc-Quebec is currently working with the Provincial Parks management to finalize the details of a field test so as to put it into effect and obtain results early in the 2009 camping season.
Even if the "green keys" do effectively convert the green propane tanks from "hazardous waste" to "bulk metal resource", it appears that they probably won't be accepted directly into either municipalities' "Blue Box Program" or Algonquin Park's "MOLOK Program". In any respect, it isn't within ABR objectives to try to convince either party of that. That issue should be between municipalities or Ontario Parks and the Coleman Company.
The Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists position is that while responsible and safe operation of refillable "white gas" camp-stoves is preferred ... all alternative "single-use" fuel tanks, should be "taken home" in keeping with current official park policy.
To quote from page 20 of the 2008 Algonquin Park tabloid ... " - Talking Trash! Most Interior (backcountry) access points no longer have garbage facilities. Backcountry campers are encouraged to adopt the "pack it in, take it home" philosophy and take home their garbage after their trip. For those access points which do offer waste facilities, campers are encouraged to follow the guidelines for recycling, composting, and garbage disposal. In all cases, non-refillable propane cylinders should be taken home and disposed of at your local hazardous waste facility".
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