EPA proposes aerosol can recycling system

Written on: March 9, 2018 by SprayTM

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a system for handling hazardous waste of aerosol cans that encourages recycling. EPA estimates it will also save at least $3 million per year in regulatory costs. EPA’s proposal adds aerosol cans to the list of materials that can be managed under the universal waste management system. The EPA’s website says the proposal is designed to ease regulatory burdens on retail stores and other aerosol can consumers, promote the collection and recycling of aerosol cans and encourage the development of municipal and commercial programs to reduce the quantity of aerosol cans going to municipal solid waste landfills or combustors. Several states have added hazardous waste aerosol cans to their state universal waste programs. The EPA says it is using those state programs as models for the proposed rule.

“I believe this is a very positive step for the EPA to take,” commented Doug Raymond of
Raymond Regulatory Resources. “This will lessen the burden on retailers that handle aerosols and assists in dealing with waste aerosols.”