Do Not Throw Away Aerosol Cans, Follow These Methods
Aerosols are small solid and/or liquid particles suspended in a gas. The particle sizes in aerosols range from approx 0,001 until 100 micron. Usually, The pressurized liquid is stored in a can equipped with a valve/nozzle to help turn the liquid into gas. The trick is to use propellant which serves to provide the pressure needed to remove the product from the can, and in combination with other components transforms the product into the desired physical form.
Propellant There are various types of aerosol cans. It is thought that the discontinuation of the use of CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) now reach 90%, implies that 10% it still causes environmental damage. The most commonly used CFC substitute is n-butane, propane, and isobutane which is a mixture of volatile hydrocarbons. This compound then makes aerosol cans need special handling in processing. What's the proper way to dispose of an aerosol can?? Check out the following explanation.
Aerosol cans include B3 waste
B3 waste is a type of waste that endangers the environment and the survival of living things because the compounds it contains can become contaminants.
Some examples of aerosol products containing B3 are insecticide products, paint product, air freshener product, disinfectant and descaling products.
Unused aerosol cans are included in this category of B3 waste. CFC-free aerosols also contain volatile organic compounds. Nah, This compound turns out to be harmful to the environment because it can damage the ozone. Whereas, Ozone depletion can increase the level of UV radiation which is harmful to health. On the other hand, the propellant used in aerosol cans is flammable and can cause an explosion.
Can be harmful to the environment and health
That's what it's for, Management of used aerosol cans should not be done haphazardly. If the origin is thrown in the trash, the remnants of compounds in cans can pollute the environment. In addition to depleting the ozone layer, some aerosol products may also affect health, for example antibacterial disinfectants containing quaternary ammonium compounds. According to The Environmental Protection Agency these materials can irritate the lungs, skin and eyes.
The proper way to dispose of aerosol cans
So that this doesn't happen, then used aerosol cans must be disposed of properly. Of, You cannot just throw away cans that contain CFCs or other propellant. The proper way to dispose of aerosol cans is as follows.
- Make sure the can is empty first
Before discarding, make sure the aerosol can is completely empty. Try pressing a section nozzle, if no product comes out and the lid is not clogged, it means the can is empty. You can also shake the can to be sure. Cans that still contain product will usually feel heavier and make less noise.
- Don't change the can
When throwing out cans, You don't need to change its shape. Make sure the shape of the can remains intact as it is. Why is that?? Aerosol cans are pressurized cans, thus changing the shape of the can will make the pressure disturbed and cause an explosion.
Besides not changing the can, avoid placing the can near a heat source such as a stove or direct sunlight. The heat will increase the pressure inside the can, which could trigger an explosion.
- Check the contents of the can
The next step is to check the contents of the can. Some aerosol cans now do not contain CFCs, but it never hurts to be careful too. Check the list of product ingredients on the can packaging to make sure there are no hazardous substances in it. Take a look at the can packaging, processing instructions or how to dispose of it are usually listed. You can follow these instructions.
- Submit it to the B3 waste manager
If you are in doubt or don't know the right way to treat B3 waste such as aerosol cans, it never hurts to ask for professional help like ARAH. Through DIRECTIONS, You can manage B3 waste, including aerosol cans safely without polluting the environment.
ARAH provides Ecoprime services that offer a variety of commercial waste handling solutions starting from packaging, transportation, up to processing in licensed processing facilities from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
From here, It can be concluded that aerosol cans should not be disposed of carelessly. If you are still unsure about processing canned waste independently, please feel free to contact DIRECTIONS. Management of commercial waste through ARAH is carried out professionally thereby reducing the risk of contamination and of course protecting your safety. Click here to connect directly with the ARAH team!