Environmental Compliance

Waste Aerosol Can Management

Waste aerosol cans are a potential safety and environmental concern because they may contain unused chemical products and propellant.

To comply with environmental regulations and Postal Service™ requirements, and to properly manage and dispose of waste aerosol cans, adhere to the following:

n Never discard non-empty aerosol cans in the trash.

n Use up all the product in aerosol cans to avoid generating a waste, and if a can is non-functional try replacing the spray device or top.

n Empty aerosol cans are a Non-Hazardous Waste and should be recycled.

n Contact a local scrap metal contractor about placing empty aerosol cans in your scrap metal recycling dumpster.

n If recycling is not possible, dispose of empty aerosol cans in the trash.

n Non-empty aerosol cans must be returned to the vendor or managed as a Hazardous Waste or Universal Waste, depending on state-specific requirements.

n Collect non-empty, intact aerosol cans in a closed container that is labeled as “Hazardous Waste - Aerosol Cans” or “Universal Waste - Aerosol Cans.”

n Arrange for off-site disposal or recycling using the USPS National Waste Management Service Supplier available in eBuy+ (see “Safety Kleen Systems” Catalog) and keep a record of the shipment.

USPS^® sites that generate large quantities of waste aerosol cans may use a commercial aerosol can puncturing system, if allowed by the state. Sites using aerosol can puncturing systems have additional requirements. USPS does not allow aerosol can puncturing to be conducted in California due to that state’s extensive regulatory requirements.

For more information, refer to the Waste Aerosol Can Management Environmental Compliance Bulletin/Standard Work Instruction at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/waste/ecb-aerosolcans.pdf or contact your USPS Environmental Specialist at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/regional-environmental-compliance-all.htm.

— Environmental Affairs and
Corporate Sustainability, 9-17-26