Aerosol Cans Illegal in Garbage & Drains Hazardous Waste Trash Aerosol cans that contained (or still contain) toxic material (e.g., air freshener, hair spray, spray paint, lysol, etc) need to be disposed of as Household Hazardous Waste. Empty aerosol cans that once held nontoxic material (e.g., whipped cream, spray cheese, etc.) should be placed in the trash. It is difficult to tell if a canister is empty. Pressurized cylinders pose a slight risk for explosion when traveling through the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) processing line and/or baled to be recycled with other metals. Aerosol cans are technically recyclable given their metal content; however, we want to protect our staff from potential risks. *SAFETY TIP: Do not leave any aerosol items inside a car or confined space that gets hot; they could explode. It's Hazardous Waste If there’s even a drop of liquid left, an aerosol can is still pressurized and can explode, so dispose of it as hazardous waste. Did You Know? Aerosol Cans Still Aren't Green The United States stopped using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol cans in the 1970s because they were depleting the ozone layer. Yet aerosol cans still contain chemicals that contribute to climate change, such as compressed gases and hydrocarbons.