Basics

This page aims for cover the reasons for, and proper means (at various scales) to Safely Dispose of Spray Cans (For “Jet Spray” Products such as Parts Cleaner Spray Cans / Penetrating Oil like PB Blaster or Seafoam Spray and to a lesser extent WD-40 etc) / Aerosol Spray Cans (Such as Spray Paint or Pesticide cans etc
To an extent this also covers disposable Butane and Iso-Butane canisters etc, but those can get their own pages as well

Reasons for Proper Disposal

While not AS large of a concern as mass volumes of Flammable Liquids (such as Used Oil , Stale Fuel, and Saturated Used Oil Filters / Oily Rags etc, the residual gas and/or fluid can pose a risk of Fires / Spontaneous Combustion etc downstream (Such as in Trash Cans/Dumpsters, In Garbage Trucks, In Waste Transfer Stations / Tipping Yards in Materials Recover Facilities / Waste Incineration / W2E Plants, OR in a Sanitary Landfill
Basically any time it sits and either generates heat by oxidation/catalytic enhanced oxidation (Re: Oily Rags ) , or is heated, and/or is crushed, bad stuff can happen
Again not the BIGGEST risk, but large enough special consideration is warranted

A special tool can be used to “punch” a hole into the side or base of the can
- Care should be taken that it is depressurized (ie “spent” ) before doing so, and further care to catch any residual non- Propellant liquids for proper disposal (and not have it splash in eyes etc)

These handheld tools (or even an Awl on a swiss army knife etc) work, but in terms of PPE is the Last Resort perspective / Hierarchy of Controls at the corperate/community level a more shielded semi-automatic or automatic system is desirable
- These also increase Labor Productivity if large amounts are to be processed

Household Hazardous Waste collection points exist for small scale
For larger scale, and especially corporate level work, contact an Environmental Services Company
- Most likely, it will be drummed up in a 55 Gallon Drum , labeled, and collected by the company
- They can provide the drum too, but besides that (and means to open/move it/ergonomic aid etc, and paperwork+money, they mostly handle it
  - Also removes any liability etc, although with proper controls+training+basic tools it is a low risk process