(Legally, household waste is excluded from the definition of hazardous waste, so there are no regulations requiring you to do this.) If the can contained a flammable liquid or one that is normally considered hazardous waste, consider taking it to a special collection for hazardous chemicals, even if you think the can is empty.If you can’t empty the can for any reason or if you’re not sure it’s empty, rather than putting it in the trash, take it to a special collection for hazardous chemicals.You shouldn’t attempt to puncture or disable the can or the nozzle as this could be dangerous as well. Empty the can by spraying it until product stops coming out and the can stops making a hissing noise. You may be able to tell if there’s still product in the can by shaking it and listening for a sloshing noise. Make sure cans are completely empty before throwing them away.Additionally, the product contained in the can could leak out and mix with other chemicals in the load, causing dangerous chemical reactions.Īnd while there are no federal regulations that prevent aerosol can waste generated in residential settings from being disposed of in the trash or in a landfill, there are a few things to do to help ensure you are doing so safely: They’re pressurized, which means they could explode under certain conditions, causing injuries and damage to our equipment. Why, you ask? Well, aerosol cans can contain substances, including the product itself and the gaseous propellant (the stuff that makes the product spray out of the can), which can create dangerous conditions when collected in the trash. When they’re empty, you may not think twice about just throwing them in the trash, but you should. They can contain products like whipped cream, spray paint, hairspray and bug spray. You probably have several aerosol cans in your house, garage or shed.
Please note that the information contained in this post refers to aerosol can waste generated in a household setting, not in businesses or industry.