We get a lot of traffic to our Aerosol Cans page, so we thought we'd dedicate a quick blog post to the topic.

The key with aerosol cans: If they are empty, they are safe to throw in the trash.  If they are not empty, they are potentially dangerous.

Aerosol cans contain liquid or gas propellant, packed under pressure. Full or partially filled cans may explode if exposed to heat or punctured, by compacting in a garbage truck, for example.

If there are leftovers in an aerosol can, consider either using the product up, giving it to someone else who could use it, or bringing it to your Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Site.  Some counties have Reuse Rooms where residents can bring unused household items like paint or cleaners for others to use (contact your county to learn more).  All HHW Collection Sites will accept your full or partially full aerosol cans for disposal.

Remember: Empty aerosol cans are safe for the trash; Leftovers should be brought to your Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site.

You can read more and find your county contact information on our Aerosol Cans page.