How to Implement Aerosol Can Recycling in Your Business
Posted on: 8 May 2019
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If your business goes through a lot of aerosol cans, then you may be concerned about the impact you are having on the environment. In most locales, these cans are treated like hazardous waste, which can make them difficult to recycle. Fortunately, there are options. Whether you use these cans for paint or whip cream, the following guide can help you cut down on the aerosol can waste your business generates.
Phase out can usage
There are some alternatives to aerosol cans that you can explore to see if they are a workable solution for your business needs. For example, if you own a cafe or bakery, you can invest in stainless steel pressurized whip cream makers, which are reusable and do not use aerosol since they are placed under pressure before each use. For those that use spray paint or other pressurized paint products, a paint gun or airbrushing setup may be a way to phase out the usage of aerosols. Explore the options in your field to see if there is a working alternative to aerosol cans.
Know the recycling requirements
As a general rule, if there is still product in the can, it is still under pressure and must be treated as hazardous waste. This is because a pressurized can is an explosion risk. In order to recycle the cans, they need to be completely emptied of product. This will require putting in place protocols for staff to follow that ensure that all cans are fully emptied. You may also need to remove plastic lids and nozzles prior to recycling. Further, aerosol cans are usually recycled separately from other items, so you will need to implement a separate disposal container to help keep the cans out of your standard waste or recycling stream.
Contract with a recycling service
Even if you follow the requirements, many municipal recycling programs may still decline to take aerosol cans due to both the perceived and the real risk. Fortunately, you can usually find a private recycling service that provides service for aerosols. Contact local services and learn their specific restrictions and protocols for recycling these cans. This will allow you to design your onsite recycling program in a way that ensures the cans get recycled.
With some planning and foresight, you can cut down on the amount of aerosol can waste your business generates. Contact an aerosol disposal service near you for more assistance.