My Propane Depot · Corporate Policy
Environmental Policy
Propane is one of the cleanest fuels we can put in a tank — but a clean fuel still has to be delivered, stored, and retired responsibly. Here's how we handle every part of that, from the first fill to the last.
Propane burns cleaner at the point of use than heating oil or gasoline — no soot, far lower particulates, and no risk of soil or groundwater contamination if a tank is ever damaged.
Our Environmental Commitment
My Propane Depot delivers an essential fuel into homes, farms, and businesses, and we take seriously what that responsibility means for the land, water, and air around every tank we fill.
We aim to run every truck, every storage tank, and every fitting the way we'd want a fuel supplier to operate in our own neighborhood: safely, cleanly, and accountably, from the day a tank is installed to the day it's retired.
Why Propane, Environmentally
Propane is recognized under the U.S. Energy Policy Act as an approved alternative fuel, and it burns substantially cleaner at the point of use than heating oil or gasoline — lower particulate output, no soot buildup, and none of the soil or groundwater risk that comes with a liquid fuel spill, since propane vaporizes rather than pooling and seeping into the ground.
That doesn't make us complacent. A clean-burning fuel still has to be stored, delivered, and retired the right way, which is what the rest of this policy covers.
Spill Prevention & Response
Every delivery follows documented loading and unloading procedures built to prevent overfills and accidental releases. Our trucks carry spill-response equipment, and our drivers are trained to contain and report any release immediately, no matter how minor it looks.
If a release does happen, our response follows the same sequence every time:
- Stop the source of the release if it's safe to do so
- Eliminate nearby ignition sources and clear the area
- Contain and ventilate as appropriate to the situation
- Notify emergency services and our own dispatch line immediately
- Document the incident and report it to the appropriate environmental agency as required
Leak Detection & Equipment Integrity
Propane is given a distinctive odorant specifically so a leak can be smelled long before it becomes a hazard. We reinforce that built-in safeguard with our own maintenance discipline: regular inspection of valves, regulators, hoses, and fittings; pressure testing on the schedule required by code; and prompt replacement of any component that shows wear.
A tank or line that isn't tight doesn't go back into service until it is — there's no "good enough for now" on a fuel line.
Delivery Fleet & Emissions
We plan delivery routes to cut unnecessary mileage and idling, and we keep our trucks on a preventive maintenance schedule that keeps engines running efficiently rather than running hard.
Over time, we're also looking at bringing propane autogas — the same fuel we deliver every day — into more of our own fleet, since less time on the road and a well-tuned engine both add up to a smaller footprint per gallon delivered.
Tank Lifecycle & Decommissioning
When a tank reaches the end of its service life, it isn't simply hauled off and discarded. Every retired tank goes through the same process before it leaves our hands:
- Full evacuation and venting of any residual product
- Certified purging to render the vessel vapor-free
- Visual and pressure inspection to confirm it's safe to handle and transport
- Removal from active service records
- Transport to a certified scrap metal recycling facility wherever one is available, rather than landfill disposal
Cylinder Exchange & Recycling
For portable cylinders — grill tanks, forklift cylinders, and similar containers — we favor exchange and refurbishment over single-use disposal. A cylinder that passes inspection goes back into circulation; one that doesn't is routed to proper decommissioning rather than the trash.
Keeping a good cylinder in service is, environmentally, always the better outcome than replacing it.
Water & Soil Protection
Storage tanks and fill points are sited and maintained with secondary containment and surface drainage in mind, so that even a minor drip at a connection point doesn't reach soil or a storm drain.
We treat any sign of staining, pooling, or unusual vegetation stress near a tank as a maintenance issue to fix immediately — not something to log and revisit later.
Regulatory Compliance Framework
Our environmental practices are built around the standards set by:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- NFPA 58, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code
- The fire marshal and environmental agency of every state we operate in
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements for the transport of LP-gas equipment
Meeting code is the floor we work from, not the ceiling.
Waste Management & Office Sustainability
Outside the tank yard, we look for the same discipline in how we run the rest of the business:
- Paperless billing and account management wherever a customer prefers it
- Recycling of scrap metal, paper, and cardboard from daily operations
- Proper disposal of used oil, antifreeze, and batteries from our delivery fleet
- Reusing spill-containment and maintenance materials wherever it's safe and practical to do so
Employee Training & Accountability
Every driver, technician, and dispatcher is trained on the environmental procedures specific to their role, refreshed on a recurring basis, covering:
- Spill prevention and containment procedures
- Leak detection and odorant awareness
- Proper PPE and ventilation practices
- Regulatory reporting requirements and timelines
- Annual refresher training plus full onboarding for every new hire
Environmental responsibility is part of the job description, not a separate compliance exercise layered on top of it.
Community Education & Customer Resources
We want every customer to know what a propane odor means, what to do if they notice one, and exactly who to call. A fast response from an informed customer does more for the environment around their own tank than any policy document ever will — it's how a small problem stays small.
If you ever have a question about your tank, a delivery, or anything in this policy, reach us directly at (323) 696-7549 or through mypropanedepot.com.
Continuous Improvement & Policy Review
This policy is reviewed at least once a year, and immediately following any incident, regulatory change, or new equipment standard that affects how we operate.
The version published on this page is the current, controlling version; printed or saved copies may be out of date.
Questions About This Policy?
Talk To Us Directly
Whether you're a customer with a tank on your property or a regulator with a question about our practices, we're glad to talk it through.