HCPA & Can Manufacturers Institute Publish Aerosol Playbook

The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) recently published Yes We Can! A Practical Guide to Aerosol Recycling at MRFs.

Developed by RTI Innovation Advisors, this document helps material recovery facilities (MRFs) navigate the risks and concerns associated with aerosol can acceptance by supporting informed internal evaluations and collaboration across the recycling supply chain, said HCPA.

“The playbook provides credible, operations-focused information, grounded in real-world case studies of material flows and infrastructure to enable MRF operators to evaluate aerosol acceptance within their local, unique systems. This supports the goal of achieving at least an 85 percent recycling access rate for all aerosol cans by 2030 as part of CMI and HCPA’s joint Aerosol Recycling Initiative,” said HCPA in a press statement.

Advisors’ Study

The study conducted interviews with 13 MRFs in 11 states, representing a “diverse mix of public and privately owned facilities across geographic regions, including facilities that explicitly accept aerosol cans, do not accept them and accept aerosols without publicly advertising their acceptance.”

“We developed the MRF playbook to provide a practical roadmap for navigating the operational realities of aerosol acceptance and a shared language to support productive conversations among MRFs, local governments and other stakeholders,” said Sami Ki, senior manager, sustainability & product stewardship, HCPA. “By grounding these discussions in real-world experience, we can make steady progress toward broader recycling access nationwide.”

“Expanding aerosol recycling requires practical guidance and tools that will drive innovation and deepen collaboration in the future,” said Roxanne Sharif, director, sustainability, CMI. “We are excited about this Playbook because it equips MRF operators with resources, including from their peers, to confidently assess and advance their operations while helping create meaningful, industry-wide impact.”