Can I Recycle Aerosol Cans?

Aerosol cans have become increasingly popular; they make applying sunscreen, greasing a pan, or topping a dessert with whipped cream that much easier. Since aluminum and other metal cans are generally accepted in our recycling program, you may think that aerosol cans would be included in that. However, due to their design and structure, they’re actually considered a hazardous material.

These are hazardous not because of the material inside them, but because they are highly pressurized. Spray cans contain the contents you use, such as hairspray, and a gas that creates pressure inside. If a can is punctured or heated, it can explode (Earth911). So aerosol cans are non-recyclable through your curbside program.

An empty can is no longer pressurized and can be thrown in the regular garbage. But if your aerosol can is partially full still, that’s when it becomes a hazard.

Partially full aerosol cans become very dangerous when thrown in the garbage because if crushed by the garbage compacter or mishandled, they can explode. In landfills, if a fire were to break out, they would also explode and cause harm to landfill workers and fire fighters. Make sure to always dispose of these properly and never puncture or heat a spray can at home.

To dispose of them, take them to a special collection center. The Illinois EPA hosts two household hazardous waste collection days per year. Aerosol cans and other hazardous items may be collected on these days. Your local village may also host these events, so you should check with them for details.

The good news is that spray cans have gotten eco-friendlier in the last few decades. They used to contain a gas called CFCs, which was harmful to the ozone layer. This was especially damaging when hairspray was very popular in the 1960s and 1980s. The Montreal Protocol was signed by 70 nations in 1987 to reduce pollutants that hurt the ozone layer. Today, almost all aerosol cans contain different propellants, such as liquefied petroleum gas, which don’t pose as serious a threat to the environment (How Stuff Works).

To sum up, aerosol cans have the potential to be hazardous so they should always be handled with caution. This includes use in your home, but more importantly when disposed of. Please dispose of your empty aerosol cans in your garbage container and take the partially full ones to a collection center. We appreciate your help in keeping sanitation workers safe!