Safety Tip Tuesday - Aerosol Can Recycling

Did you know Mason PUD 3 has an Aerosol Can Recycling Program?

The disposal of aerosol cans can be costly to both the environment and the budget. The contents of aerosol cans are under pressure and often times have a dangerous ignitability and toxicity, leading to the need for proper disposal.

The State of Washington Department of Ecology suggests two options for disposing of aerosol cans containing hazardous waste:

1.    Dispose of the intact cans and contents at a permitted dangerous waste management facility, requiring incineration.

2.    Puncture the cans using a commercial puncturing device, drain and collect the contents, dispose of the contents as dangerous waste through a permitted facility and recycle the empty cans as scrap metal.

Mason PUD 3 collects aerosol cans for puncturing with the Aerosolv device (this puncturing process is done by the warehouse or transformer shop).

The cans are collected in a 55-gallon drum with a black spring lid near the battery and bulb recycling or in a gray bin behind the transformer shop. The cans are then segregated and punctured, draining the liquid into the drum for proper disposal and the drained cans can then be disposed as scrap metal.

Common aerosol cans include:

• Marking paint

• Cleaners/degreasers

• Air (for dusting)

• Insecticides (cannot be punctured due to toxicity, this chemical is a known neurotoxin)

If you have any questions about the Aerosol Can Recycling Program please contact Dennis or Ali.