Oceanside CA— The City of Oceanside is pleased to announce a recycling event for one-pound propane cylinders and fire extinguishers, both of which require additional handling and increased cost for proper recycling. This service will be held at the Oceanside Fire Department’s Open House on Saturday, October 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Fire Station 7 located 3350 Mission Avenue. The Open House includes tours, information and activities for all ages. While supplies last, Green Oceanside will also provide one refillable one-pound propane cylinder to each resident who brings in a used one-pound propane cylinder to be recycled. In addition, Green Oceanside will be collecting expired fire extinguishers and used one-pound propane cylinders at the Oceanside Fire Training Center at 110 Jones Road, less than one mile from Fire Station 7.
Refillable one-pound cylinders can be refilled hundreds of times over an approximate 12-year period. This helps reduce the estimated 4 million one-pound cylinders landfilled in California annually. While disposable one-pound cylinders can cost up to $7, the cost to refill a reusable one-pound is approximately $2. Additionally, one pound cylinders are often disposed of improperly, which creates safety issues for both park rangers and sanitation workers. “This is the first one-pound cylinder exchange event to be held in Oceanside,” said Colleen Foster, Oceanside Senior Management Analyst, “this provides a great opportunity for residents to experience the benefits of reusables in the outdoors.”
The City of Oceanside is on the Road to Zero Waste with a community wide goal of 75%-90% recycling rate by 2020. To reach and surpass this goal, the City has extensive solid waste and recycling services available to residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Residents have a variety of free services available including by-appointment drop off for Household Hazardous Waste such as paint, household and yard chemicals, fluorescent tubes and other toxic materials, every other Saturday at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2880 Industry Street. Although the majority of hazardous wastes that are generated at home are accepted at this facility, there are a few items that require additional safety handling for proper disposal.