Many facilities must perform painting processes as part of product manufacturing and/or facility maintenance operations. Empty paint cans and empty aerosol spray paint containers are typically disposed as municipal solid waste and end up in the local landfill.

Crushing and recycling metal aerosol cans and recycling paint cans can increase recycling revenues and reduce the liability often associated with handling and disposing of cans that contain hazardous materials.

Puncturers only take a few seconds to use, and once emptied, the can is ready to be recycled with other scrap metal.

Recommendations:

Facilities should consider taking the following steps:

• Purchase an aerosol can puncturer so spent aerosol cans can be completely emptied. The emptied cans can usually be recycled as an alternative to disposal as a solid or hazardous waste.

• Work with local metal recycling programs to recycle empty paint cans and aerosol cans.

Some aerosol contents are considered hazardous waste by regulators. Applicable regulations should be investigated to determine the requirements for disposal of containers which perviously contained hazardous waste.

Vendor Information:*

Aerosolv® is an aerosol can puncturer that pierces the dome of the used can, thereby relieving the pressure and collecting any residual liquids in a drum. The residual propellant gas is filtered to remove VOCs (if applicable) through an activated carbon cartridge installed on the collection drum bung.

Aerosol Puncturing System

Aerosolv® Aerosol Can Recycling System
Waste Control Systems, Inc., Contact: Bill Fannon
2835 Merrymans Mill Rd.
Phoenix, MD 21131-1631
ph. (410)252-9360, fx. (410)252-9362, sale@wastecontrol.com

The Aerosolv® system requires a capital expenditure of approximately $450 for the equipment. Facilities should investigate the number of aerosol cans used, and the recycling value versus disposal cost of the spent cans to determine the cost-benefit of purchasing this system (i.e., payback).

Several vendors supply similar puncturing systems. Check with local paint distributors for more information.

Metal Recyclers

Metales Artico, Contact: Ana Picos
Calle Granate #10-B
Fracc. El Rubi, Tijuana
ph. (52-66)84-50-25, fx. (52-66)84-54-13

Productos Reciclables la Calera, Contact: Manuel del Toro
Final Canal Norte #100
Colonia Alamar, Tijuana
ph. (52-66)23-05-17, fx. (52-66)23-05-17

* See Border Recyclers Directory for other potential vendors.