Many cleaners, paints, pesticides, personal care products and adhesives are packaged in aerosol spray containers. While aerosol containers no longer contain chlorofluorocarbon or CFC, these thin-walled steel or aluminum vessels are pressurized with one of several hydrocarbon propellants, such as carbon dioxide, propane and butane. These propellants are “greenhouse gases” that contribute to global warming and smog formation.
When completely empty, the propellant and product are gone and the containers are not considered hazardous wastes. Metal is banned from the garbage at Hartland landfill so empty aerosol containers must be recycled. Partially empty spray cans are generally considered hazardous waste because they contain ignitable or chlorinated solvents or other toxins such as pesticides and phthalates.
Reduce | Reuse | Recycle | Facilities
How do I go green?
Reduce
First, determine whether or not that spray can is even needed. Could the entire process using the aerosol be eliminated? If required, choose a non-hazardous product or the least hazardous product that will do the job (a Material Safety Data Sheet — MSDS— is one resource that may be helpful). Using environmentally friendly products will reduce your impact on the environment and keep your home safer and healthier.
Use only as much as is needed. Use up products before buying others. To apply paints, use a brush instead of an aerosol. Look for the product in a manual pump container.
Shops and facilities that switch to refillable spray bottles are saving money by avoiding the high cost of aerosol containers and are helping to protect the environment by eliminating the solid and potentially hazardous waste they produce.
Reuse
Hartland landfill has a paint exchange and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore also accepts used paint for resale. Could friends or family use your leftover product?
Recycle
Paint and pesticide aerosol containers are Product Stewardship items as well as being household hazardous waste. Residential quantities can be dropped off at no charge at the Hartland Landfill Recycling Facility and other Product Care facilities. Check the listings below for additional drop off locations.
If they are completely empty and the only warning symbol is ‘Explosive, Caution’ (a triangle with an image of an explosion in it) you can place them in your CRD blue box for curb side pick-up or they can be taken to any metal recycling facility Aerosol containers are no longer explosive once they are empty. Please remove the plastic lid which is also accepted in your blue box once removed.
If they are not empty, homeowners can bring them to the Household Hazardous Waste facility at Hartland landfill. This does not apply to businesses.
Please note that not all facilities listed below will accept all kinds of aerosol containers. Phone before going to be sure.
Facilities
Alpine Disposal & Recycling
1045 Dunford Avenue
Langford
250-474-5145
Ellice Recycle
Enter at 524 David Street
Victoria
250-386-4342
Habitat for Humanity Victoria ReStore
849 Orono Avenue
Victoria
250-386-7867
Hartland Recycling Facility
# 1 Hartland Avenue
Victoria
250-360-3030
Oak Bay Municipal Depot (Oak Bay Residents Only)
1771 Elgin Road
Victoria
250-598-4501
Pender Island Recycling Depot
4400 Otter Bay Road
Pender Island
250-629-6962
Saanich Public Works Yard (Saanich Residents Only)
1040 McKenzie Avenue
Victoria
250-475-5599
Salt Spring Island Recycling Depot
349 Rainbow Road
Salt Spring Island
250-537-1200
Saturna Island Recycling Depot
Navarez & Harris Road
Saturna Island
250-539-2868
Sidney Bottle Depot
#5-10025 Galaran Road
Sidney
250-655-4878
Sooke Garbage Disposal
6228 Sooke Road
Sooke
250-642-3646
The Environmental Story
Before 1987 the propellant used to force the aerosol out of the can was chlorofluorocarbon or CFC, which damaged the ozone layer. Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, aerosol containers now use a hydrocarbon gas, nitrogen or air depending on the material to be sprayed. There are still potential environmental and safety issues but the ozone related problems have been addressed.
CFC's are still used in some applications (e.g. asthma inhalers) but the number of these exceptions is limited.
There are many other environmental concerns with aerosol containers. For example house paint, a petroleum based product, can contain up to 1500 different petrochemicals, which are toxic when in liquid and drying form. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, smog and require large amounts of energy to make. Low VOC paints are now widely available.
Did You Know?
The typical spray can contains at least 25% recycled metal.
If the 3.5 billion+ aerosol products sold annually were recycled, enough steel would be produced for 160,000 automobiles.
Save the Date!
This year, Hartland Happening is on Sunday June 24th.
10:30 am to 3:00 pm
Click here for more details
Questions? Call the CRD Hotline.
We can answer your questions on the Hartland landfill, composting, household hazardous waste, recycling and more!
t: 250.360.3030
toll-free: 1.800.663.4425 #3030
Household Hazardous Waste
Our natural environment is no place for household hazardous waste. Ensure that pesticides, varnishes, paints, chemicals and batteries are safely disposed of and kept out of our landfill.
Go blue. It's the right thing to do.
Use CRD Blue Boxes & Bags at the curb.