Aerosol cans are used to store everything from food to bathroom products to paint. While the can itself has the same value as other metal cans, the pressurized air inside and potentially hazardous contents make recycling a bit more complicated.
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This will vary based on your local program. Many bigger cities accept empty aerosol cans because they have the technology to safely crush the cans, but you’ll definitely want to verify acceptance. If the can is full, you’ll need to dispose of it as household hazardous waste.
No. Empty aerosol cans are not considered HHW, according to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). It doesn’t matter if the original content was food, sunscreen, or a hazardous material like paints or pesticides.
Once upon a time, aerosol cans were linked to depleting the ozone layer because they contained chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), but these were phased out in 1978. They do still emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to smog. If this concerns you, you can find aerosol alternatives for any products currently on the market.
If your city collects aerosol cans for recycling, its material recovery facility has special equipment to puncture the cans and remove/properly dispose of remaining liquids. Once the can is punctured, a magnet will separate the aluminum cans from the steel cans (steel is magnetic, aluminum is not), and they are then crushed and baled before being sent to a recycler. If cans are collected for HHW, they will often end up in a swap shop where people can take them for reuse. If unclaimed, the material is processed and incinerated by professionals.
In California and Colorado, aerosol cans are classified as universal waste, which reduces regulations and increases collection opportunities for this material. This means they are also banned from landfills and must be recycled.
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