Aerosol cans are a potential safety hazard and environmental concern because they may contain unused chemical products and propellants. Employees must store and dispose of waste aerosol cans properly using the following methods:
n Use up the contents of aerosol cans before disposal. Empty aerosol cans are a non-hazardous waste, and must be recycled, if possible. Contact your local scrap metal contractor to get permission to put empty aerosol cans in the scrap metal recycling dumpster. If recycling is not possible, empty aerosol cans may be disposed of in the trash.
n Do not dispose of cans that still contain unused liquid and propellants in the regular trash. Aerosol cans that contain unused liquid or unspent propellants are typically managed as hazardous waste. Some states, including California, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Ohio, and Utah allow waste aerosol cans to be managed as universal waste under less stringent requirements.
For more information on disposal options, see the Environmental Compliance Bulletin for Waste Aerosol Cans at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/waste/ecb-aerosolcans.pdf.
No matter what extinguishing agent is used to fill the fire extinguisher, all fire extinguishers made of steel or aluminum can potentially be refilled, recharged, or recycled. Contact the local fire department for recommended fire extinguisher distributors serving the area. The local distributor can work with you to arrange the refill, recharge, exchange, or recycling of fire extinguishers.
In the event the fire extinguisher is used, expired, or damaged, or a distributor is not available to assist, sites may dispose of fire extinguishers as regulated waste. Do not throw fire extinguishers in the trash. Fire extinguisher disposal services are available in eBuy+ from Safety-Kleen, a USPS® national waste management contractor. All eBuy+ disposal services are organized by the size of the fire extinguishers (i.e., small, medium, large, and extra-large). Always keep records of fire extinguisher pick-up and disposal to document proper management.
Some states regulate waste fire extinguishers as a reactive hazardous waste because of the pressurized container. Sites in these locations must manage waste fire extinguishers in accordance with all local, state, and federal hazardous waste regulations.
— Environmental Affairs and Corporate Sustainability,
Corporate Affairs, 6-3-21
