The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) have published a practical guide to help material recovery facilities (MRFs) navigate aerosol can acceptance as part of their joint Aerosol Recycling Initiative.
Developed by RTI Innovation Advisors, Yes We Can! A Practical Guide to Aerosol Recycling at MRFs addresses the inconsistent acceptance of aerosol cans at US facilities — despite empty cans being recyclable — and aims to support the initiative's goal of achieving at least an 85% recycling access rate for all aerosol cans by 2030.
The playbook draws on interviews with 13 MRFs across 11 states, representing a diverse mix of public and privately owned facilities, including those that explicitly accept aerosols, those that do not, and those that accept them without publicly advertising the fact.
RTI also spoke with nine city and state officials to understand how government policy influences aerosol acceptance decisions.
The guide identifies key MRF operator profiles, outlines the benefits and risks of aerosol acceptance, and provides recommendations and roadmaps grounded in real-world case studies of material flows and infrastructure.
Sami Ki, senior manager of sustainability and product stewardship at HCPA, said the playbook was designed to provide "a shared language to support productive conversations among MRFs, local governments, and other stakeholders."
Roxanne Sharif, director of sustainability at CMI, added that the guide equips operators with peer-sourced resources to assess and advance their operations while driving "meaningful, industry-wide impact."
CMI and HCPA publish aerosol recycling guide for MRF operators
