ILLINOI S EN VIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
vent holes and spill-proof, shut-off
valves, harmful gasoline fumes can
be reduced by 75 percent or 16.8
tons per day of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) throughout the
State of Illinois.
Benefits and Costs
Improve indoor air quality
and safety
Storing traditional gas cans may pose
a threat to the health of those in the
home. When old cans are stored in a
garage or in the basement, the toxic
fumes are emitted into the air and
can negatively impact inhabitants
with respiratory ailments. The
environmentally friendly gas cans will
reduce emissions by 75 percent over
traditional cans. The emissions
reduction potential from this strategy
is equivalent to removing 195,000
cars from the highways of the
Metro areas.
Cost effectiveness
An environmentally friendly gas can
typically cost $6-$11 more than a
Portable gas cans, like those used
to fuel lawnmowers, account for a
significant amount of smog-forming
emissions escaping into
the air every day. Survey data
indicates that nearly every
household has at
least one
portable gas can.
Emissions from
gas cans occur from evaporation
and due to spillage from
overfilling of power equipment
fuel tanks. In transporting and
storing cans, emissions are also
released through secondary vent
holes and permeation. By using
newer gas cans, which are made
of materials that minimize
permeation losses and include
features such as no secondary
standard gas can. Assuming a
five-year useful life, this amounts
to an additional $1.20 to $2.20
per year over the life of the gas
can. This equates to a cost
effectiveness of $250 to $430 per
ton of VOCs reduced, which is a
very cost effective strategy.
Future Gas Can
Replacement Programs
Be on the alert for future Illinois
EPA Gas Can Exchange Program
events in other areas. Tell your
friends and neighbors about this
clean air, cost-saving strategy.
Always purchase environmentally
friendly, low-emitting cans and
products from your local
merchants!
1021 North Grand Avenue East
Post Office Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
Phone: 217/524-4343
Fax: 217/524-4710
Email: epa2161@epa.state.il.us
Gas Can Replacement
