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Empty aerosol cans
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In Calgary, put this in the
Blue cart — Recycling
Completely empty aerosol cans go in the blue cart. Partially full or hazardous aerosols go to a household hazardous waste drop-off.
Also searched as: spray can, aerosol.
Why the blue cart?
An empty aerosol is just a steel or aluminum can and recycles the same way. One with product left is a pressurized hazard — cans have exploded in compacting trucks — which is why anything not fully empty goes to hazardous waste instead.
Get it right
- Spray until nothing comes out, not even propellant hiss — that’s “empty”.
- Leave the can intact: never puncture or crush it.
- Take the plastic cap off (black cart) and drop the bare can in the blue cart.
- Paint, pesticide or solvent aerosols with anything left inside go free to an Eco Centre or fire-station hazardous-waste depot.
Related items
📍 Scrap metal🗑️ Drinking glasses and Pyrex♻️ Metal food cans♻️ Glass bottles and jars♻️ Aluminum foil and trays🗑️ Ceramics and dishes
Know your pickup days too
Look up your black, blue and green cart collection schedule by address.
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