How to Recycle Aerosol Cans Safely

You can recycle aerosol cans at home, but you need to do it safely. Always check your local rules first. Some places have different steps for recycling. Safety comes first—never try to crush or open a can yourself. If you follow the guidelines, you help the planet and keep your home safe.

Tip: Empty cans only! If the can still sprays, take it to a special collection site.

Key Takeaways

Always check that aerosol cans are empty before recycling. This helps stop fires or explosions. Never crush, puncture, or open aerosol cans by yourself. This keeps you and workers safe. Take off the plastic cap and recycle it by itself. Leave the nozzle on the can unless your local rules say not to. If a can still sprays or has liquid inside, do not put it in the recycling bin. Bring it to a hazardous waste collection site instead. Look up your local recycling rules because they are different in each city and state. Following these rules helps keep the environment and your community safe.

Can You Recycle Aerosol Cans?

You may ask if you can put aerosol cans in your recycling bin at home. The answer is not always the same. Most places let you recycle them, but only if they are empty. If you shake the can and hear liquid, it is not empty. If it still sprays, it is not ready to recycle. You must follow your local recycling rules to keep everyone safe.

What Makes a Can Recyclable

Aerosol cans are made from metals like aluminum or steel. These metals are good for recycling. Here are some facts:

• Both aluminum and steel cans can be recycled.

• Some cans have a steel bottom and a paper body. These are called composite canisters, and many places take them.

• About 62% of people in the U.S. can recycle aluminum aerosol cans, and 61% can recycle steel ones.

Tip: Always check that your can is empty before recycling. If you are not sure, take it to a special collection site.

Local Program Rules

Rules for recycling aerosol cans are different in each city. Some places let you put empty cans in your curbside bin. Others want you to throw them away, even if they are empty. Many cities want you to bring full or partly full cans to a hazardous waste site. Once the can is empty, what was inside does not matter. Some states, like California and Colorado, make you recycle aerosol cans. They do not let them go to landfills.

Here are some rules from local recycling programs:

• Only empty aerosol cans go in the recycling bin.

• Never put full or partly full cans in the trash or recycling.

• Some cities take empty cans in curbside bins if they have safe equipment.

• Businesses must follow special rules for hazardous waste.

Many people think they can recycle aerosol cans without emptying them. This is not true. Pressurized cans can explode or leak. Always check your local recycling program before you recycle aerosol cans.

Why Recycling Aerosol Cans Matters

Environmental Benefits

Recycling aerosol cans helps the environment in many ways. These cans are made from metals like aluminum and steel. Making new metals takes a lot of energy. It also makes greenhouse gases. Recycling saves energy and lowers pollution. It keeps metal out of landfills too.

If you throw aerosol cans in the trash, they go to landfills. This can cause problems:

• Cans can stay pressurized and might explode or catch fire.

• When cans break down, they let out harmful chemicals into the air and soil.

• Aerosol sprays, like air fresheners, have chemicals called VOCs. These can hurt air quality and make it hard to breathe.

• Landfills with aerosol cans can make gases like methane. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas that makes climate change worse.

Did you know? Recycling metals from aerosol cans uses less energy than making new metals. This means less pollution and a cleaner planet for everyone.

Safety Concerns

Aerosol cans can be dangerous if you do not use them right. Many cans still have chemicals inside, even if they look empty. These chemicals can be:

• Paints

• Lubricants

• Insecticides

• Cleaning sprays

• Air fresheners

• Personal care products

Some of these products have flammable or toxic stuff. They can cause fires, explosions, or health problems. Here are some risks:

• Flammable liquids and gases can catch fire easily.

• Toxic chemicals can hurt your lungs or skin.

• Some cans have things that burn or sting.

• Certain sprays have chemicals that can harm your body over time.

If you put cans that are not empty in the trash or recycling, you put workers and others at risk. Always make sure cans are empty before recycling. If you are not sure, take them to a special collection site.

How to Recycle Aerosol Cans

Step-by-Step Process

Recycling aerosol cans at home can feel simple when you know the right steps. You want to keep your family and the recycling workers safe. Here's how you can do it:

1. Check if the can is empty. Shake it. If you hear liquid or it still sprays, it's not empty.

2. Do not pierce, crush, or flatten the can. Pressurized cans can explode if you try to open or damage them.

3. Remove the plastic cap. Take off the cap and set it aside for separate recycling.

4. Leave the nozzle on. Most recycling programs want the nozzle to stay on the can.

5. Place the empty can in your recycling bin. Make sure you follow your local rules.

Tip: Always read your city's recycling guide. Some places have special instructions for aerosol can recycling.

Here's a quick table to help you remember:

Common mistakes can make recycling dangerous. Here are some things you want to avoid:

1. Not emptying the can before recycling.

2. Mixing aerosol cans with regular trash.

3. Leaving labels or sticky residue on the can.

4. Ignoring local rules for hazardous waste.

5. Trying to crush or puncture the can yourself.

Never try to open, crush, or burn an aerosol can. It can cause injury or fire.

Handling Full or Partially Full Cans

If your aerosol can is not empty, you need to treat it as household hazardous waste. The EPA says these cans can be dangerous because they hold chemicals under pressure. You should never throw full or partly full cans in the trash or recycling bin.

Here's what you can do:

1. Bring the can to a hazardous waste center. These centers accept all types of aerosol cans, even those with paint, cleaners, or insect spray.

2. Look for community disposal events. Many towns hold special days for collecting household hazardous waste, including aerosol cans.

3. Use a licensed junk removal service. Some companies can pick up and safely dispose of aerosol cans for you.

4. Check for special recycling stations. Some places have devices that safely empty and recycle aerosol cans.

Note: Always store full or partly full cans in a cool, dry place until you can dispose of them. Keep them away from heat and sunlight.

Most states want you to use household hazardous waste programs for these cans. They protect the environment and keep people safe. If you're not sure where to go, call your local waste department. They can tell you the best way to dispose of aerosol cans in your area.

Removing Caps and Nozzles

Before you recycle aerosol cans, you need to remove the plastic cap. Most caps are made from polypropylene plastic. They go in a different recycling stream than metal cans. Some new caps are fully recyclable, but you still need to take them off.

Here's how you do it:

1. Make sure the can is empty.

2. Pull off the plastic cap. Set it aside for plastic recycling.

3. Leave the spray nozzle on the can. Most programs want the nozzle to stay attached.

4. If your local program says to remove the nozzle, follow their rules.

Tip: Don't try to remove the nozzle unless your recycling guide says so. Removing it can be hard and may damage the can.

Some recycling centers use special machines to puncture and drain cans. These machines keep workers safe and help recycle aerosol cans the right way. If you have a lot of cans, ask your local center if they use this system.

By following these steps, you help make recycling safer and more effective. You also keep hazardous waste out of landfills and protect your community.

Aerosol Can Recycling Safety Tips

What to Avoid

When you handle aerosol can recycling at home, you want to keep everyone safe. Some mistakes can cause big problems. Here are things you should never do:

• Never put non-empty aerosol cans in your recycling bin or trash. Pressurized cans can explode if crushed or heated.

• Do not try to puncture, crush, or flatten cans yourself. This can release dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.

• Keep aerosol cans away from heat sources like stoves, heaters, or direct sunlight. Heat can make them burst.

• Never mix aerosol cans with items like propane tanks, syringes, broken glass, or food waste in your recycling bin.

• Do not spray out the contents just to empty the can. Some sprays need special disposal as household hazardous waste.

If you are not sure if a can is empty, take it to a household hazardous waste collection site. This keeps you and others safe.

Here's a quick table of what not to put in your recycling bin with aerosol cans:

Safe Storage

You want to store aerosol cans safely before you recycle or dispose of them. Good storage helps prevent accidents and keeps your home safe.

1. Store cans in a cool, dry place. Avoid garages or sheds that get hot.

2. Use a sturdy plastic tub or metal container. Do not use cardboard boxes, which can get soggy or break.

3. Keep cans away from anything that can catch fire, like gasoline or paint thinner.

4. Separate any leaky cans and pack them with absorbent material, like old rags.

5. Label your storage container as “Universal Waste—Aerosol Cans.” This helps everyone know what's inside.

6. Make sure the area has good airflow. Open a window or use a fan if needed.

7. Keep children and pets away from stored aerosol cans.

Tip: If you have a lot of cans or any that are leaking, call your local waste department for help. They can tell you the best way to dispose of aerosol cans safely.

Safe storage and careful recycling protect your family, your community, and the environment.

You can keep your home and community safe by following these steps:

1. Use up all the product so the can is empty.

2. Remove the cap and check your local rules before placing it in the bin.

3. Never crush, puncture, or burn cans.

4. Take full or hazardous cans to a special collection site.

When you share what you know, you help others recycle safely. Communities that spread clear information see more people join in and fewer mistakes.

FAQ

Can I recycle aerosol cans that still have a little product left?

No, you can't. If the can still sprays or you hear liquid, it's not empty. Take it to a household hazardous waste site. This keeps everyone safe.

Do I need to remove the label from the can before recycling?

You don't have to remove the label. Most recycling centers accept cans with labels. Just make sure the can is empty and the plastic cap is off.

What should I do if my city doesn't accept aerosol cans in recycling?

Check for a local hazardous waste collection event. You can also call your city's waste department. They will tell you the best way to dispose of aerosol cans.

Can I recycle the plastic cap from an aerosol can?

Yes, you can recycle most plastic caps. Place the cap in your plastics recycling bin. If you're not sure, check your city's recycling guide.

What happens if I put a non-empty aerosol can in the recycling bin?

The can could explode or leak. This puts workers and equipment at risk. Always empty the can first or take it to a hazardous waste site.