Can You Recycle Aerosol Cans?

Aerosol cans are found in almost every home and workplace. Deodorants, air fresheners, cleaning products, shaving foam, furniture polish and numerous other everyday products rely upon aerosol packaging. Yet when these containers become empty, many people remain uncertain about what to do with them.

Can you recycle aerosol cans, or must they go into general waste?

In most cases, you can recycle aerosol cans once they are completely empty. However, you must prepare them correctly and follow the collection guidance provided by your local council or commercial waste contractor.

Aerosol cans require greater care than ordinary food tins because they contain pressurised gases. Even when a can appears empty, a small amount of pressure or product may remain inside. Therefore, you should never pierce, crush or flatten an aerosol can before placing it in a recycling container.

By understanding how to recycle aerosol cans safely, homeowners and businesses can recover valuable metals, reduce unnecessary waste and prevent potentially hazardous containers from entering unsuitable waste streams.

Manufacturers usually make aerosol cans from either tin plated steel or aluminium. Both materials are valuable and widely recyclable.

According to Recycle Now, approximately 60 per cent of aerosol cans are made from tin plated steel, while around 40 per cent are made from aluminium. Both metals can be recovered and used to manufacture new products.

Steel provides strength and durability, allowing the container to withstand internal pressure without becoming excessively heavy. Aluminium offers similar strength while remaining lightweight and resistant to corrosion.

The main body of the aerosol is metal, although the container may also include a plastic cap, nozzle and internal tube. These separate components do not always follow the same recycling process as the can itself.

However, the presence of a plastic nozzle does not necessarily prevent the aerosol can from being recycled. Most recycling facilities can separate small amounts of non metal material during the sorting and processing stages.

Most councils in England accept empty household aerosol cans alongside other metal packaging, such as food tins and drinks cans.

Examples of commonly accepted aerosol cans may include:

1. Deodorant cans
2. Air freshener cans
3. Shaving foam cans
4. Hair spray cans
5. Furniture polish cans
6. Household cleaning aerosols
7. Insect repellent cans
8. Some personal care products

Before placing an aerosol in your household recycling, check the guidance provided by your local authority. Collection arrangements can vary between different council areas, particularly where materials are sorted into separate containers.

Recycle Now confirms that aerosol cans should be completely empty before recycling. It also advises people not to pierce, crush or flatten them. Any loose or easily removable parts, such as the plastic lid, can be detached and placed with the appropriate recycling.

Partially full aerosol cans require more careful disposal.

An aerosol that still contains paint, chemicals, solvents or another product should not normally be placed in a standard household recycling container. The remaining contents may create a fire risk, contaminate other recyclables or expose waste workers to hazardous substances.

Homeowners should contact their local council or household waste recycling centre for guidance. Some centres accept aerosols containing residual products through a dedicated hazardous household waste collection.

Do not pour the contents down a drain, onto the ground or into another container. Many aerosol products contain substances that can pollute water, damage wildlife or create dangerous fumes.

Businesses should speak to their licensed waste contractor before disposing of partially full cans. The correct classification and collection method may depend upon the substance that the aerosol contains.

Businesses in England can recycle many ordinary empty aerosol cans as part of their dry recyclable waste collection.

Current workplace recycling rules require businesses, charities and public sector organisations in England to separate dry recyclable materials, food waste and non recyclable waste before collection. Dry recyclables include metal packaging such as empty air freshener and deodorant aerosols.

Micro firms with fewer than ten full time equivalent employees currently have until 31 March 2027 to comply with these requirements. Other workplaces have been subject to the rules since 31 March 2025.

Businesses may produce aerosol waste in offices, hotels, salons, care homes, schools, workshops, warehouses and hospitality premises. Establishing a clear procedure can help employees dispose of each container correctly.

A sensible workplace approach should include clearly labelled bins, straightforward instructions and regular checks for contamination.

Businesses should also confirm exactly which aerosols their waste contractor accepts. Government guidance states that empty deodorant and air freshener aerosols can form part of dry recyclable metal waste. However, aerosol packaging that has contained spray paint, cooking gas or certain other substances is not typically accepted within an ordinary dry recycling collection.

You can recycle many aerosol cans, provided that they are completely empty, intact and accepted by your local collection service.

Never pierce, crush or flatten an aerosol. Remove loose plastic caps where appropriate and seek specialist guidance for partially full containers, spray paint cans, gas products or aerosols that have contained hazardous substances.

For businesses, clear separation and reliable waste collections can improve recycling performance while supporting compliance with current workplace recycling requirements.

W&S Recycling provides professional waste management, metal recycling and collection services for households and businesses. With the right system in place, valuable steel and aluminium can remain in productive use rather than being lost within general waste.