Aerosol Recycling Initiative details benefits of recycling aerosol can products

The Washington-based Aerosol Recycling Initiative has published the executive summary to a white paper that will be released in May detailing the campaign’s initial-phase activities and data gathered to date to establish the aerosol can’s recycling story, as well as plans for the next phase.

The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA), also based in Washington, launched the Aerosol Recycling Initiative in May 2022 with the aim of making the recycling of aerosol cans easier for end users by achieving two goals by 2030:

• Reach at least an 85 percent recycling access rate for aerosol cans in the U.S. market.
• Label at least 90 percent of aerosol cans as recyclable with messaging about how to properly recycle these products.

Despite recent concerns regarding the recyclability of aerosol cans, the initiative says its research has shown that these products can provide significant benefits to communities, the economy and the environment when incorporated as part of a broader waste management system that includes reduce and reuse.

From an economic standpoint, the study claims a 50 percent recycling rate of aerosol cans generates more than $39 million each year. Environmentally, it says recycling one aerosol can reduces greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of driving a half-mile in the average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle or charging 13 smartphones.

“Unfortunately, there are some misconceptions surrounding aerosol cans that make people question the safety of recycling these products,” says Scott Breen, senior vice president of sustainability at CMI. “The purpose of this initiative is to help clarify these misunderstandings and enhance the aerosol can’s recycling story. Aerosol cans are made from aluminum and steel, which can be infinitely recycled and have ready end markets, making these products extremely valuable in recycling streams.”

Nicholas Georges, HCPA’s senior vice president of scientific and international affairs, says explaining the aerosol can’s recycling story is only one piece of the puzzle.

“There is still work to be done to increase recycling access rates for aerosols and to educate consumers about how to properly recycle these products,” he says. “The second phase of this campaign will tackle this challenge by engaging material recovery facilities (MRFs), municipalities and retailers on aerosol recycling access and collaborating with companies that manufacture and sell aerosol products to make certain label changes that include language on recyclability and how to recycle.”

The full executive summary can be found here.