Arizona Latest State to Adopt Aerosols as Universal Waste Rule

DECEMBER 17, 2020

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized regulations (“Increasing Recycling: Adding Aerosol Cans to the Universal Waste Regulations”) on Nov. 15, 2019, and published them in the Federal Register on Dec. 9, 2019. These regulations allow for the management of hazardous aerosol can wastes under the universal waste portion of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste rules (40 CFR 273).    

The Aerosols as Universal Waste Rule became effective on Feb. 7, 2020, in non-authorized states and must be adopted in authorized states.

Clean Earth is tracking the rulemaking process for the states to show when the rule is effective, as well as the interim steps such as draft regulations and public comment periods. 

Arizona is now the 12th state, as well as the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, to adopt the Aerosols as Universal Waste Rule, meanwhile Arkansas and Connecticut’s adoption timeline remains undetermined. 

The following states have anticipated rulemaking after Dec. 31, 2020:

• Delaware
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Maryland
• South Carolina
• Tennessee

Missouri and Mississippi also have expected rulemaking after Dec. 31, 2020, however there will be public comment in these states during the first half of 2021.

The Clean Earth Aerosol Recycling System expects to process 13 million aerosol cans by the end of 2020, an 85% increase from the company’s aerosol can recycling in 2015. Leading the field in advanced, sustainable aerosol recycling for pressurized steel cans, aluminum cans, plastics and glass, Clean Earth has already surpassed its record year in 2017.

To learn more about how we can assist you with navigating the universal and hazardous waste regulations, contact us here.