Why curbside programs fail aerosol cans — and how to fix it
Studies show that end-of-life aerosol cans retain 25% of their contents, highlighting a major missed opportunity for resource recovery
The aerosol industry produces over 16 billion cans annually, yet less than 10 percent are recycled, missing a critical opportunity to recover propellants, liquids, and metals for a circular economy. Even leading regions struggle to achieve 20 percent recycling rates, underscoring a pressing environmental challenge.
Systemic barriers to aerosol can recycling
Both myself and DESPRAY CEO Eelco Osse have dedicated 37 years to solving the aerosol recycling bottleneck with cutting-edge technology and a bold vision for global change. The problem? Safety and systemic barriers regarding end-of-life aerosol cans pose unique risks in material recovery facilities (MRFs) and recycling centres.
Loaded with flammable propellants and hazardous liquids, they're almost always seen as potential fire or explosion hazards rather than recyclable resources. UK waste reports from 2021 link aerosols to multiple MRF fires, explaining why waste handling management and workers alike divert billions of cans to landfills or incinerators globally.
This isn't apathy — it's self-preservation, compounded by a lack of safe recycling tools and inconsistent regulations. For example, one U.S. state classifies aerosols as recyclable, while another labels them hazardous, leaving recycling programs to improvise without standardized guidance.
Eliminating barriers with advanced technology
The solution? Use proven advanced technology to eliminate these barriers. These systems are safety-certified by Lloyds and are fully automated technology that processes almost all aerosol types. The current technology also captures the gases, collects the liquid for waste-to-energy, and produces clean metals for metal recycling.
Five global patents, including one converting contaminated propellants to EU-compliant end-of-waste fuel, back both our commitment and our approach to making a true difference versus programs that lack the content or direction to make significant real-life changes to aerosols' environmental footprint.
DESPRAY steps in
Our latest innovation, a soon-to-be-patented system, achieves 100 percent volatile organic compound (VOC) capture for maximum recycling efficiency. Additionally, our AI-powered sorting technology distinguishes aerosols from other cans and sorts specific types — cosmetics, paints, lubricants, and more — making it compact and adaptable for any MRF or recycling centre.
Not to be overlooked are our decades of data, which speak for themselves. The system needs big changes, not just white papers. Our detailed studies at multiple sites across multiple countries over multiple years show consistent data supporting the fact that end-of-life aerosols retain an average 25 percent fill rate after consumer and business use. This is a figure backed by a decade of video evidence and log data.
It's time to face this stark reality. This isn't an estimate — it's a proven reality. These results highlight the untapped potential for recovery, slashing emissions and supporting a circular economy. The cost of safe and effective recycling isn't cheap, but the environmental and safety toll of inaction is far, far costlier.
Landfilling billions of cans wastes resources and exacerbates climate impacts, while inconsistent recycling policies hinder progress. Most curbside programs reject aerosols over safety concerns, and global recycling reports often sidestep hard stats on infrastructure needs. Curbside programs also need a major rethink.
On the bright side, models like Germany's collection rate of over 70 percent prove what's possible with concerted effort. With blinders off and minds open to change, a 50 percent global recycling rate by 2030 is achievable with the right tools, commitment, and support.
The role of the Global Aerosol Recycling Association
I started the Global Aerosol Recycling Association (GARA) with the mission to drive this transformation. GARA will have real-life offerings that will make desperately needed changes. This is not just my statement, but my retirement mission, and hopefully, legacy: to turn aerosols from Earth-polluting landfill waste into circular economy assets.
The goal is to be a one-stop hub uniting recyclers, fillers, supply chains, and industrial partners to share strategies, set benchmarks, and promote safe, efficient recycling. We've already self-funded a PHD thesis on aluminum aerosol recycling, targeting efficiencies by addressing plastic components in metal bricks. Aluminum's significant environmental footprint makes these innovations critical for emission reductions.
The technology exists, the math checks out, and the urgency is undeniable. Hesitation and lack of action are now the biggest barriers, not safety. GARA can't do it alone. We need the aerosol industry to step up, align sustainability pledges with actionable recycling initiatives, and support standardized global programs. Those 16 billion cans can't wait — be part of the solution today. No action is a choice. Let's make a potentially huge difference together.
Mike MacKay is the managing director of DESPRAY Environmental and can be found on LinkedIn here.
