Aerosol cans

Hi Tahlia,

Thanks for your question – it’s a really important one!

Aerosol cans can be tricky. In some council areas, empty aerosol cans (like hairspray or deodorant) can go in your kerbside recycling bin. But in other places, they’re not allowed in any bin, especially if they still have something inside – like pesticides, cleaning products, or anything flammable.

Because aerosols can contain accelerants, they can become dangerous in waste trucks that use compaction – there’s a real fire risk if they’re not handled properly.

Best advice? If in doubt, check it out! Open up Recycle Mate and search for aerosol cans. It’ll give you the most accurate answer based on where you live.

Cheers for helping us all recycle better and safer!