- Put empty non-hazardous aerosol cans, like cooking oil or sunscreen, in your recycling bin or trash can at home if your city or county laws allow it.
- Check if a scrap yard will take empty aerosol cans if you want to sell them for cash.
- Take empty cans labeled “hazardous waste,” like spray paint, solvents, and pesticide, and all partially-full cans to a hazardous waste disposal site in your area.
Empty Aerosol Cans
Test spraying the aerosol to ensure it’s completely empty. Before you toss out your aerosol can, point the nozzle into a trash bag or cardboard box and press it down. If nothing comes out of the nozzle and it doesn’t appear to be clogged, then can is considered empty and can be disposed of safely. If you're unsure if the nozzle is clogged, try shaking the aerosol can. If you feel any liquid moving around inside the aerosol can, then it’s still partially full and should be disposed of differently.
Recycle or trash the cans if local disposal laws allow it. Look up your city or county with the term “aerosol can disposal” online, or call your area’s waste management facility to find out the regulations. If your area allows recycling for empty aerosol cans, just toss the cans in your bin so they’re picked up with the rest of your recyclables. If they don’t list aerosol cans as recyclable, just throw the empties in with your regular trash. Every city or municipality has different policies on getting rid of aerosol cans. If you do not have single-stream recycling in your area, sort your aerosol cans in with other metal objects, like food and soda cans.
Take cans labeled “hazardous waste” to a safe disposal site in your city. Some aerosol cans, such as pesticides, solvents, spray paints, and propane canisters, contain hazardous materials that are unsafe for normal trash and recycling collection. Check the aerosol can for hazardous waste warning labels and follow the disposal directions listed on the packaging. Look up the nearest hazardous waste disposal site in your city or county to throw away dangerous substances. Then, just drop the aerosols off there to ensure the residual chemicals are handled properly. Some cities or counties host hazardous waste disposal events a few times a year where you’re able to safely dispose of aerosol cans. Check your city government’s website to see if any events are happening in the near future. If you are unsure whether a specific type of aerosol can is considered hazardous waste, call your town's recycling center and let them know the contents of the can. They’ll tell give you the proper disposal instructions.
Try selling empty aerosol cans to a scrap yard. Since many aerosol cans are made of steel or aluminum, scrap yards may accept them and pay you. Check online for local scrap yards in your area, and contact them directly to see if they’ll take empty aerosol cans. If the scrap company accepts the cans, drop them off whenever it’s convenient to get a little extra spending cash. Selling 1–2 aerosols at a time may only be worth a few cents, but they can start to add up if you have a large collection of empty cans.
Full or Partially-Full Aerosol Cans
Take your partially-full aerosol cans to a hazardous waste collection site. Search for the name of your city or country along with the phrase “hazardous waste collection” to locate the nearest disposal facility to you. Alternatively, check your town’s waste collection site to see if there are any hazardous waste disposal events happening. Take all of your aerosol cans to the safe collection site so the contents inside are properly managed. You may have to pay a small fee for each can you’re throwing away. Contact the hazardous waste disposal site ahead of time to learn more about their policy.
Donate the aerosol products to someone who will use them. If you’re trying to dispose of spray paint that still has some contents inside, reach out to local artists to see if they want them. Ask your friends and family members if they have any use for other specific aerosol products so they don’t go to waste at a disposal site. You could even check with local businesses to see if they need any of the products. Post your leftover aerosols for free in a social media marketplace or neighborhood group page to see if anyone in the area could use them.
Try to use the product until the can is empty. The contents inside aerosol cans are usually good for a few years, so save them if you’re not in a hurry to get rid of them. Continue using the aerosol products until nothing comes out of the sprayer so you’re able to toss the can into your recycling bin or trash can. Avoid trying to puncture the can to empty the contents inside. Since aerosol cans are pressurized, even a small puncture could cause the can to explode and cause serious injuries. Only empty an aerosol can for its intended purpose. Spraying the contents of the can into the air could let out hazardous materials into the environment.
Avoid putting non-empty aerosol cans in your trash. While it may not seem like a big deal to throw away a partially-full can of hairspray or cleaning product in the garbage, they can actually be very dangerous. Since aerosol cans are pressurized, they could explode if they are exposed to high heat or punctures during trash collection. This could even happen in the garbage truck, which could cause injuries.
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