04.23.24
The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) launched an Aerosol Recycling Initiative.
The initiative aims to make recycling aerosol cans easier for the end-user by achieving two goals by 2030: reaching at least an 85% recycling access rate for aerosol cans in the US market and labeling at least 90 percent of aerosol cans as recyclable with messaging about how to properly recycle these products.
Despite recent concerns regarding the recyclability of aerosol cans, the initiative’s research has shown that these products can provide significant benefits to communities, the economy, and the environment when incorporated as part of a broader waste management system that includes reduce and reuse, per the organizations.
From an economic standpoint, a 50% recycling rate of aerosol cans generates more than $39 million each year. Environmentally, recycling one aerosol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of driving 0.5 miles in the average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle or charging 13 smartphones.
“Unfortunately, there are some misconceptions surrounding aerosol cans that make people question the safety of recycling these products,” said Scott Breen, CMI’s senior vice president of sustainability. “The purpose of this initiative is to help clarify these misunderstandings and enhance the aerosol can’s recycling story.”
The second phase of the campaign will engage material recovery facilities, municipalities, and retailers on aerosol recycling access and collaborating with companies that manufacture and sell aerosol products to make certain label changes that include language on recyclability and how to recycle.