Written on: May 16, 2022 by SprayTM
The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Household & Commercial Products Association
(HCPA) launched an Aerosol Recycling Initiative with the support of almost 20 companies across the aerosol
value chain to increase access to aerosol recycling and on-pack recyclability messaging.
The initiative’s two quantitative, time-bound goals are to achieve by 2030 at least an 85% recycling access
rate for all aerosol cans and label at least 90% of aerosols as recyclable with messaging about how to
properly recycle them.
“Aerosol cans continue to deliver on the recyclable packaging that consumers are increasingly demanding, but
not enough U.S. households have access to a recycling program that accepts these products,” said Nicholas
Georges, HCPA’s Senior VP of Scientific & International affairs.
“The aerosol industry is collaborating with each other, allied trade associations, and external partners to conduct a variety of activities that will result in more households having the ability to recycle their aerosol cans more conveniently.”
CMI and HCPA are employing a dynamic expert team that provides a varied skill set to execute the initiative’s first year activities. One member of the expert team is Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, which has a deep understanding of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) operations. MRFs do the important job of sorting single-stream recyclables.
Another team member, Eunomia Research & Consulting, is a data-driven consultancy specializing in achieving better environmental outcomes. Jensen Hughes is also involved to provide technical safety expertise with its staff of engineers and scientists.
“The aerosol industry has proactively joined together with a team of experts to ensure the infinitely recyclable
aluminum and steel in aerosol cans remains in use,” said Scott Breen, CMI’s VP of Sustainability. “This
will significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and further help society reach a more
circular economy.”
This initiative would not be possible without the support and expertise of the following CMI and HCPA member
companies: Aerofil Technology, Ball Corporation, CCL Container, Church & Dwight, Crown Holdings, CRC
Industries, Diversified CPC International, DS Containers, Honeywell, The Procter & Gamble Company, PLZ Corp,
Reckitt, SC Johnson, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Sonoco, Summit Packaging Systems, and Trivium
Packaging.
For more information about the Aerosol Recycling Initiative, please visit https://www.thehcpa.org/aerosol –
recycling-initiative/.
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About CMI
The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) is the national trade association of the metal can manufacturing industry
and its suppliers in the United States. The can industry accounts for the annual domestic production of
approximately 130.7 billion food, beverage and general line cans; employs more than 28,000 people with plants
in 33 states, Puerto Rico and American Samoa; and generates about $15.7 billion in direct economic activity.
CMI members are committed to providing safe, nutritious and refreshing canned food and beverages to
consumers in the most sustainable packaging.
About HCPA
The Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) is the premier trade association representing
companies that manufacture and sell $180 billion annually of trusted and familiar products used for cleaning,
protecting, maintaining, and disinfecting hom es and commercial environments. HCPA member companies
employ 200,000 people in the U.S. whose work helps consumers and workers to create cleaner, healthier, and
more productive lives.
