The Gas Care 2000 Program

Overview

Each year, American consumers accidentally spill more than 9 million gallons of gasoline, largely in attempts to fill small engine machines like lawn mowers, chain saws, generators and outboard motors and through improper disposal of excess or old gasoline. The Alliance for Proper Gasoline Handling is a unique public-private partnership helping to reduce the significant environmental harm caused by millions of these small, accidental spills.

Program Elements

The Gas Care 2000 campaign will utilize a number of new and innovative methods to help spread the importance of using good sense with gasoline. By reaching consumers through the Internet, point-of-purchase, and at local recycling and disposal centers, the Alliance hopes to bring about meaningful behavioral changes in gasoline handing and disposal. Among the elements of this year's campaign are: Internet-based gasoline handling and disposal resources, retail promotions of the state-of-the-art gasoline containers, a hotline with live operators trained to answer pertinent questions regarding the proper disposal and handling of gasoline, and visibility events to promote awareness, understanding and a call to action.

Integrated Gasoline Handling and Disposal Resources

Through its newly formed partnership with Earth's 911, The Alliance for Proper Gasoline Handling will be providing new Internet resources on gasoline handling to citizens across the country and specific disposal information to residents of New England, New York, New Jersey and California.

The partnership will combine the information infrastructure of Earth's 911 with the regional resources and established relationships of the Alliance partners, to create the first, centralized source for localized gasoline disposal information. Beginning later this summer, residents of the Northeast and California will be able to access localized gasoline disposal information, including household hazardous waste collection dates by town. This means that by simply typing in a zip code, a consumer will able to identify when and where to dispose of waste gasoline. This information will be available at Earth's 911's existing Web site at www.1800cleanup.org, as well as by telephone at 1-800-CLEANUP. A direct link to Earth's 911 database has also been established at The Alliance's Web site (www.gas-care.org).

In addition to these new gasoline disposal resources, the Alliance will also be establishing new resources for educating consumers on issues directly related to gasoline handling and storing. As part of this effort, the Alliance is introducing a new toll-free consumer hotline, (1-800-USA-FUEL) that will provide live gasoline information to inquiring consumers. This hotline has been established through Hart/IRI Fuels Information Services, a founding member of the Alliance and one of the leading information and consulting services firms for the fuels marketplace.

Retail Promotions:

The Alliance will be utilizing the significant presence its gasoline retail partners have in the Northeast and California to create consumer awareness and understanding on the issues of gasoline handling and disposal.

Later this year, the Alliance's retail partners will be implementing various promotional programs to encourage the use of recommended, environmentally conscious gasoline products such as nozzles and gas cans. In addition, these outlets will be distributing newly designed "Use Good Sense with Gasoline" consumer tip cards at their stations.

Localized Events and Visibility:

The Alliance has also designated the last week of September as Gas Care Week in the Northeast and California. This time of the year is when many residents in these states begin to store away gasoline powered equipment for the season. The Alliance will be implementing a series of publicity programs designed to increase the number of consumers who, when storing equipment, dispose of excess gasoline at appropriate town and regional centers to prevent dumping gasoline in trash, down the drain or using other improper methods. There will be a series of events at state recycling and disposal centers to promote Gas Care week.

In addition, the Alliance, with the support of Earth's 911, will be producing and airing local public service announcements to further encourage proper gasoline disposal.

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