Aerosol Cans Special Instructions Send an email to your Waste Services Team Generator Assistant with the quantity, type, and location of aerosol cans. It's Hazardous Waste An aerosol can is still pressurized and can explode if there’s even a drop of liquid left, so dispose of them as hazardous waste. Empties Are Recyclable If an aerosol can is completely empty, it’s okay to recycle it with other metal cans. Did You Know? Aerosol Cans Still Aren't Green The United States stopped using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol cans in the 1970s because they were depleting the ozone layer. Yet aerosol cans still contain chemicals that contribute to climate change, such as compressed gases and hydrocarbons.