EPA Considering Proposal to Add Aerosol Cans to Federal Universal Waste Regulations

AUGUST 8, 2017

It is no secret that aerosol cans are ubiquitous in today’s society. According to the Consumer Aerosol Products Council, up to 1,500 kinds of products, from asthma inhalers to shaving cream and hair sprays, are packaged as aerosols.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it has been exploring the potential for adding certain retail items, such as aerosol cans, to the federal universal waste regulations. Aerosols are currently classified as hazardous waste across the country, although some states have already added them to their list of items that can be managed as universal waste, including California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas (paint only), and Utah.

This change in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations, once finalized, would benefit a wide variety of companies generating and managing aerosol products, including the retail sector.

In addition, the EPA will be developing a guide on how to recycle aerosol containers. The guide will discuss approaches for managing all components of aerosol cans under existing recycling exclusions.

Visit our website for more information on how Clean Earth can help your business remain compliant with the latest hazardous waste regulations.