Are Aerosol Cans Recyclable?

Aerosol cans contain substances that are kept under pressure and are released as a fine spray when a button is pressed.

Since the contents of aerosol cans are under pressure and will explode if heated or smashed, compacting them inside a trash truck can cause them to burst. If they don’t explode inside the truck, the damage may be delayed and could happen anywhere along the line of the disposal process. Because of this, aerosol cans are not recyclable under normal recycling processes.

Some recycling processes and programs allow aerosol cans to be recycled if they are, indeed, completely empty. If empty, they may also be thrown away in your regular trash. If there is even a small amount of product in them, aerosol cans should be taken to a Household Hazardous Waste collection site. 

Check with your local recycling center or Solid Waste Management District for information on these collections.

For more information on recycling visit www.wasteawaygroup.com.