Aerosol Recycling Initiative publishes white paper to accelerate aerosol recycling in the US

The Aerosol Recycling Initiative, a collaboration between the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Household and Commercial Products Association (HCPA), unveils its strategic white paper aiming to propel aerosol recycling in the US to new heights.

By 2030, the initiative aims to boost the accessibility of aerosol recycling facilities to at least 85% of consumers and ensure that 90% of aerosol cans feature explicit recycling instructions. With nearly 4 billion aerosol containers purchased annually in the US, amounting to approximately 300,000 tons of steel or aluminium, this initiative holds significant environmental promise.

CMI's senior vice president of sustainability, Scott Breen, addresses prevalent misconceptions surrounding aerosol can recycling. The campaign seeks to dispel doubts and enhance public consciousness about the safety and efficacy of recycling these products.

Scott Breen asserted: "There are some misconceptions surrounding aerosol cans that make people question the safety of recycling these products."

"The purpose of this Initiative is to help clarify these misunderstandings and enhance the aerosol can's recycling story," Breen added. 

Notably, a 50% recycling rate for aerosol cans could generate over US$39 million annually while concurrently curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Nicholas Georges, HCPA's senior vice president of scientific and international affairs, emphasizes the economic and environmental incentives driving the initiative's second phase.

The campaign garners support from industry leaders such as Ball Packaging, Trivium, CCL Containers, and Crown Holdings, alongside suppliers like Sherwin Williams. This collaboration underscores the collective commitment to advancing sustainability within the aerosol industry.

HCPA's senior vice president of scientific and international affairs, Nicholas Georges, said that the second phase of the campaign would "engage material recovery facilities, municipalities, and retailers on aerosol recycling access and collaborating with companies that manufacture and sell aerosol products to make certain label changes that include language on recyclability and how to recycle."