Georgia, Illinois Latest States to Acquire Aerosols as Universal Waste Final Rule

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

At large retail facilities, aerosols have accounted for up to 40% of the items managed as hazardous waste. However, in February of 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added aerosol cans to the federal universal waste list, allowing generators to manage aerosol products with the less complicated universal waste requirements. As a result, retailers are able to significantly reduce how much hazardous waste they are generating.

Georgia and Illinois are the latest states to adopt the Final Rule that added aerosols to the universal waste program. The rule is also in effect in Minnesota, but there is an anticipated amendment after Dec. 31, 2020, with public comment period in the first half of 2021.

Additionally, the following outlines the state-by-state implementation of the Aerosols as Universal Waste Rule, focusing on changes over the past month.

States with anticipated rulemaking after Dec. 31, 2020, with public comment period in the second half of 2020 are:

• Washington DC
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Mississippi
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee

The following states also have anticipated rulemaking after Dec. 31, 2020, however there is no public comment period yet:

• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• West Virginia

Florida and Indiana are expected to have rulemaking by Dec. 31, 2020. Florida will have public comment period in the second half of 2020, while Indiana does not have a period for public comment yet. Oregon has anticipated rulemaking after Dec. 31, 2020, with public comment in the first half of 2021. 

Please click to expand.

The materials contained in aerosols can pose a potential environmental hazard if disposed of alongside regular municipal trash. When disposing aerosols, they must be handled responsibly in compliance with state and federal law in a way that reduces their potential environmental impact.

Clean Earth has extensive technical capabilities to handle the processing of many types of consumer commodities. We have a custom-built, cutting-edge aerosol recycling plant capable of recycling over 7 million cans per year.

Learn more about our unique ability to process and fully recycle aerosol waste products.