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Aerosol Cans

Definition

Aerosol cans are a non-fillable container in which gas under pressure is used to aerate and dispense any material through a valve in the form of a spray or foam.  There are two different categories of aerosols in the EHS Hazardous Waste program: food-related & all other types.

Food-related aerosols can be thrown directly into the trash.  There is no regulated disposal for these.

All other types of aerosols become a waste when the container no longer sprays, the material is expired, or when the material is unwanted.  They must be given to and disposed of by the EHS Hazardous Waste Program and cannot be disposed of in the general refuse.

Aerosols are not considered empty unless they have been punctured.  However, puncturing aerosols should not be performed on campus, because an Air Permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy would be required.

Common Types of Aerosol Waste at MSU

  • Food Aerosols: Whipped cream, Cooking Sprays
  • Other Aerosols: Lubricants, adhesives, pesticides, paints, air dusters, cleaning agents, air fresheners, expanding foam sealers, stains, etc.

Container Type

Aerosols must be collected in containers that are compatible with the materials and can be sealed or closed when not actively adding waste.  Options include cardboard boxes, 5-gallon buckets with snap lids, or fiber drums.  The EHS Hazardous Waste Group can provide fiber drums to locations if they generate many aerosols at one time.

 5-gallon white bucket with snap lid and purple and white label. Label is marked with Universal Waste Aerosols and Accumulation Start Date of 5/1/2025 55-gallon brown fiberboard drum with lid and purple and white label. Label is marked with Universal Waste Aerosols and Accumulation Start Date of 7/31/2024 Brown fiberboard box with closed flaps and purple and white label. Label is marked with Universal Waste Aerosols and Accumulation Start Date of 5/1/2025

Storage

Waste containers must be kept free of any liquids or residue on their exteriors.  EHS Hazardous Waste Staff will reject any container with liquid or residue on the exterior until it has been cleaned.  Leaking waste containers will not be accepted, and the contents must be transferred to a new container prior to disposal by the EHS Hazardous Waste group.

  • All container lids MUST be closed tightly unless waste is being actively added to the container.
  • Secondary containment is not required but is recommended for waste storage.
  • Submit frequent requests for waste pick up through the EHS Hazardous Waste Request form to stay within the 90-Day storage limit and minimize the amount of waste containers in your space.

MSU Waste Tag Required

No – A MSU Waste Tag is not needed when submitting aerosols. 

Labeling

Containers used to collect aerosol cans onsite must be labeled with the words “Universal Waste Aerosol Cans” and contain the accumulation start date.  The accumulation start date is the first day that you begin filling the container with aerosols.  Alternatively, EHS provides the following label for Universal Waste, which can be requested through the EHS Safety Portal:

Purple and white Universal Waste label with check boxes for each type of Universal Waste. Accumulation Start Date is highlighted in red

Submit Hazardous Waste Request

When container is full or close to the 90-day accumulation limit, submit a Hazardous Waste Request via the EHS Safety Portal as follows:

  • Login in the EHS Safety Portal through a preferred web browser using your MSU Net ID and EBS Password
  • Select: Hazardous Waste Request
  • Aerosols are found under the Common Process category