Maidstone Borough Council Stops Commercial Waste Collections
Maidstone Borough Council will stop providing commercial waste services from 1 April 2025. Find out what your business must do and arrange an alternative.
Aerosol technically refers to the product contained within the can, but we often use the word to describe the containers too. From deodorant to spray paint, aerosol cans are used in large volumes across the world for all sorts of purposes every day.
While you may realise they must be handled and disposed of with care, you might not quite know why. This guide explains everything you need to know about aerosol can disposal – from how they’re made to why careful disposal and recycling is so important. Find out more about aerosol disposal below.
To dispose of aerosol cans as a business or at home you must first ensure the cans are empty. Then the general process for aerosol can disposal at home or work is as follows:
The contents of most aerosol cans last for a long time. If you have full ones or aerosol cans that are not empty, then the best thing to do is hold onto them. Find some storage space where you can keep them for future use – whether they’re spray paints, deodorants, or disinfectants.
If you don’t have space to store full aerosol cans, then you could donate them to a local charity shop. Ask around and give them to a friend, family member, or neighbour who will use them. However, if you must dispose of full aerosol cans then you need to throw them away with hazardous waste.
Businesses can arrange hazardous waste collections to dispose of aerosol cans that aren’t empty. Simply place any full or partially full aerosol cans in specific hazardous waste bins and book collection by licensed waste carriers. Households should visit an out-of-home recycling centre that has hazardous waste disposal facilities to get rid of full aerosol cans.
Get rid of any old aerosols your organisation no longer needs in a safe and environmentally friendly way. At Business Waste we provide aerosol can recycling for companies all over the UK. We’ll deliver free bins to store your aerosols, then arrange collection by our licensed waste carriers on a schedule that suits you.
Send empty aerosol cans for recycling to reduce the amount of landfill tax you pay and help protect the planet. Get a free no obligation quote for aerosol can disposal tailored to your business – based on the amount and type of aerosols and your location.
For full or partly full aerosols we can also arrange hazardous waste collections. There are a range of bins available to store any old aerosols and you can arrange collections as a one-off or on a daily, weekly, or fortnightly basis if you regularly create aerosol waste.
Contact us online or call 0800 211 8390 for a free quote for aerosol can collections and recycling. Our expert team can answer any questions you have about aerosol can recycling and advise on the best bins, collection schedule, and management plan for your old aerosols.
Yes, you can recycle aerosol cans made from tin-plated steel and aluminium, as these are recyclable metals. You can also recycle aerosol can caps, as in most cases it’s made from recyclable metal or plastic. The valve and actuator are often made from plastic and also recyclable.
When recycling aerosols they need to be empty – as any remaining original contents may class as hazardous waste. As long as they’re empty you can easily recycle most deodorant cans, air fresheners, spray paints and more.
Whether you use aerosols as part of the daily running of your company or within your personal life, disposing of aerosol cans correctly is essential. This is because the contents inside the can may be harmful to human or animal life. The volatile nature of aerosols means it could also explode or cause fires if pierced or otherwise damaged.
Aerosol cans are recyclable, so disposing of aerosols can be relatively easy. To dispose of aerosol cans, you should:
When recycling aerosols you can put any empty cans made from tin-plated steel or aluminium in your metal recycling bin. This way they’ll be collected, sorted, and recycled alongside other waste metal. At home you can normally put aerosols in your mixed recycling bin – though check with your local authority first.
Aerosol cans can be recycled at an appropriate treatment facility. Many local councils also offer kerbside pickup for aerosol products used within the home. When taken to the appropriate facility, the following process occurs:
Many consumers are growing concerned about using aerosols in their daily life, as they can harm the environment. While their use may be unavoidable, there are various new alternatives to aerosols currently under development. These include the Airopack – a dispensing system powered by air. Additionally, consumers can purchase aerosol alternatives – such as roll-on deodorants instead of aerosol cans.
Aerosols are considered a form of classified or hazardous waste. This means you must proceed with caution when disposing of aerosol cans. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that aerosol cans make up around 40% of the hazardous waste sent to specialist facilities each year.
You can reduce the amount of waste you produce within your business and personal life by finding ways to repurpose items instead of throwing them away. However, it can be complicated with aerosol cans because you must ensure they don’t get pierced or damaged during the process.
Some people have found aerosol cans can be used in a variety of DIY projects. For example, they can be used to create unique artwork or stands for lamps. Otherwise, simply recycling aerosols means lots of the materials get reused in some way.
The cost of aerosol recycling can be factored into the cost of your commercial waste collection plan. At Business Waste, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with cost-effective waste management services that enable you to dispose of all manner of waste without putting pressure on your bank account.
For example, we’ll provide you with access to the appropriate recycling bins or containers completely free of charge. Furthermore, at Business Waste, we avoid landfill wherever possible, meaning you won’t have to pay any additional landfill tax when disposing of aerosol cans.
To dispose of aerosol cans at home, you can arrange for aerosol products to be collected by your local council. Though the rules and regulations vary depending on your location, you can apply for this online or through the post. However, you can also drop off your used or empty aerosol products at:
According to a recent report from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, nearly 40 billion aerosol cans are used each year globally. We use around 600 million aerosol cans each year in the UK, which roughly works out at approximately ten aerosols per person.
Thankfully, the number of aerosols sent to landfill within the UK each year is gradually reducing. A recent survey found that 70% of consumers ensure their aerosol products are sent to recycling facilities.
A few further facts about aerosols are:
Studies suggest that the concept of aerosol cans or containers (a system that allows liquid particles to be distributed as mist) dates as far back as 1790. However, the original patent for aerosol was awarded to chemical biologist Erik Rotheim in 1927. Since then, many different variations of aerosol products have been introduced to the international market.
Aerosol containers are typically made of four components. Each one of these is made from different materials of varying degrees of recyclability. The four components aerosol cans are made from are the:
When the four components are brought together, great care is taken to ensure the product remains airtight and leakproof – so they’re safe and ready for use. They’re typically made in a factory, where the production line can be carefully monitored and assessed.
Find out more about other rubbish streams.
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Maidstone Borough Council will stop providing commercial waste services from 1 April 2025. Find out what your business must do and arrange an alternative.
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Published 14th April 2022 by Mark Hall. Last modified 30th August 2024