Walmart proposal for the non-hazardous management of 

consumer product aerosol cans under the Resource 

Conservation and Recovery Act

Background

In 2010, Walmart managed approximately 4.3 million pounds of consumer product 

aerosol cans as hazardous waste, which accounted for nearly 40% of our hazardous waste.1 

These aerosol cans are generated through customer returns, facility damage, manufacturer 

damage, or transportation related damage. They are typically comprised of cosmetically dented 

cans, customer returned cans missing product, or cans missing actuator nozzles. Because of 

the uncertainties regarding the regulatory status of waste aerosol cans, Walmart and other 

retailers, must manage them as hazardous waste. The generator burdens and implications of 

managing these aerosol cans as hazardous waste include meeting hazardous waste storage 

requirements, manifesting requirements, and most significantly, direct impacts to generator 

status. Because they are presently managed as hazardous waste, the vast majority of 

Walmart‟s aerosol cans are currently incinerated by licensed disposal facilities with little 

recovery or recycling of valuable components that could act as substitutes for virgin materials. 

Walmart proposes that other alternative outlets already exist that could be used by 

retailers to manage the cans in a manner that ensures that the purposes of the Resource 

Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) are fulfilled through the environmentally sound 

recycling of aerosol cans. By removing the significant burdens and implications of managing 

aerosol cans as hazardous waste, EPA can help aerosol cans reach these legitimate recycling 

outlets. EPA can achieve this by providing needed clarity to the retail sector and others under 

the current RCRA regulatory structure.

The Universe of Aerosol Cans in Retail

The 4.3 million pounds of aerosol cans managed as hazardous waste by Walmart in 

2010 can generally be segregated into several categories of cans:

1) 17% contained non-hazardous propellant (e.g. nitrogen) and the remaining can 

contents are non-hazardous (either by listing or characteristic)

2) 52% contained propellants comprised of traditional ignitable fuel sources such as 

propane or butane and the remaining can contents are non-hazardous (either by listing 

or characteristic)

 

1

The percentages for 2011 are presently trending similarly to 2010. Aerosols cans, while a large percentage of 

Walmart’s hazardous waste stream, make up only a very minor part of the total number consumer aerosol 

products handled by Walmart. The vast majority of cans, over 800 million in 2010, are safely shipped to stores and 

sold to customers, ultimately being disposed of by households and small businesses. 
3) 12% contained propellants comprised of traditional ignitable fuel sources such as 

propane or butane and the remaining can contents are also hazardous (either by listing 

or characteristic)

4) 19% contained ignitable hazardous propellants that are not traditional fuels and the 

remaining can contents may or may not be hazardous (either by listing or characteristic)

Management of Aerosols in Category #1

This category of cans, representing approximately 17% of the total volume, could be 

managed entirely as non-hazardous absent uncertainty regarding the characteristic of reactivity 

(D003) associated with aerosol cans. EPA has maintained that it is unable to determine 

whether aerosol cans meet the RCRA definition of reactivity in 40 CFR 261.23(6) which is “it is 

capable of detonation or explosive reaction if it is subjected to a strong initiating source or if 

heated under confinement. 2

However, EPA “has maintained that small arms ammunition intended for disposal, up to and 

including .50 caliber, is not reactive within the meaning of 40 CFR 261.23(a)(6).”3 The MSDS 

for a common ammunition states the following:

CAUTION! EXPLOSIVE. KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT. DO NOT SUBJECT TO 

MECHANICAL SHOCK.

Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition

It is not surprising, however, that the broad definition of „reactive‟ results in confusion when 

applied to aerosol cans since many consumer aerosol cans have similar warnings on their 

MSDS.4 If EPA can determine that .50 caliber bullets do not fall within the definition of 

“reactive,” then it stands to reason that EPA should be able to determine that consumer product 

aerosol cans are not “reactive.”

It is simply hard to fathom that EPA envisioned the definition of “reactive” encompassing

consumer products such as aerosol cans with whipped topping.5 Nevertheless, the uncertainty 

surrounding this issue leaves states, generators, transporters, and TSDFs with no clear 

 

2

See ROs 11782 and 11806.

3

See RO 13712

4

The warning label from a common whipped topping product that contains only whipped topping and 

nitrogen propellant states the following:

Exposure of cans to temperatures over 120°F may cause bursting. Pressurized containers may 

explode in heat and should be removed from fire if possible. Waste Disposal Method: Contents 

of can under pressure, do not puncture or incinerate. Dispose of cans in accordance with local 

or federal laws and regulations.

5

If any consumer product that might burst when exposed to heat or pressure is “reactive,” then could bicycle 

inner-tubes, footballs, and balloons be reactive?
direction. If EPA could provide clarity to the retail sector on the status of aerosol cans generally 

being non-reactive, then Walmart and others would be free to explore more recycling options for 

aerosol cans. While this section is focusing on aerosols cans in Category #1, the issue of 

reactivity pervades all categories of consumer product aerosol cans.

As an example of potential unique recycling solutions for Category #1 aerosol cans, 

Walmart has been in discussions with an entity named G2 Revolution, LLC regarding the 

potential reuse of certain consumer products that are not suitable for retail sale or donation due 

to factors such as denting of the cans or broken actuator nozzles. One such reuse option 

involves the repurposing of Silly String® into parking lot wheel stops. A copy of G

2

‟s proposal 

and pictures of the resulting product are attached as Exhibit 1.

Management of Aerosol Cans in Category #2

This category of aerosol cans constitutes approximately 52% of Walmart‟s aerosol can 

hazardous waste volume which contain a traditional fuel propellant such as propane or butane 

and no other hazardous constituent. Presently, 40 CFR 261.2(c)(2)(ii) states that all commercial 

chemical products that are burned for energy recovery are not solid wastes if the commercial 

chemical products are themselves fuels. EPA has clearly stated that an entity that is recovering 

propane and butane fuels from aerosol cans is covered under the solid waste exclusion in 40 

CFR 261.2(c)(2)(ii).6 Hence, it is clear that, as to the person actually recovering the fuel, such 

cans are not solid wastes. However, EPA has provided confusing guidance for persons, 

including the fuel recycler, who accumulate or store these cans prior to the fuel being recovered. 

For example, while EPA has stated that the solid waste exemption for scrap metal applies at the 

point of generation7(arguably the retail facility in this discussion), EPA has also stated that 

aerosol cans destined for recycling are subject to the scrap metal exemption only once they are 

punctured and drained.8 Based on this guidance from EPA, it is unclear whether persons 

accumulating aerosol cans must puncture and drain aerosol cans at their facilities prior to 

storing or transporting them in order to avail themselves of the fuel exemption. Walmart believes 

that a proper reading of 40 CFR 261.2(c) is that they do not. 

40 CFR 261.2(c) states that “materials are solid wastes if they are recycled – or 

accumulated, stored, or treated before recycling – as specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) 

of this section.” Paragraph (c)(2)(ii), entitled “Burning for Energy Recovery”, states “however, 

commercial chemical products listed in §261.33 are not solid wastes if they are themselves 

fuels.” Hence, Paragraph (c)(2) excludes aerosol cans from being a solid waste both during 

recycling and while they are being accumulated, stored, or treated prior to being recycled. 

If the recycler who recovers fuel from aerosol cans is covered by the exclusion in 40 

CFR 261.2(c)(2)(ii), then it is simply logical that generators who accumulate, store and then 

transport the same aerosol cans to the recycler for the very purpose of recovering the fuel 

 

6

See RO 11717

7

See RO 14277

8

See RO 11780
should likewise be eligible to avail themselves of the exclusion at the point of generation.

9

 EPA 

has already taken this approach for spent lead acid batteries.10

Instead of storing and manifesting aerosol cans in Category #2 as hazardous waste, 

Walmart would prefer to send these cans to authorized facilities to have the fuel recovered and 

used as a substitute for virgin fuels. Attached as Exhibit 2 is information from GRR Attalla, Inc. 

(GRR) regarding their authorized aerosol can processing facility in Alabama. GRR has 

proposed to take aerosol cans from Walmart that contain fuel propellants and utilize the fuel as 

a substitute for natural gas in their drum reconditioning facility.

11

Management of Aerosol Cans in Category #3

The aerosol cans in Category #3, like Category #2, contain fuel propellants, however, 

the contents of the can are also hazardous, either by characteristic or listing. Presuming EPA 

agrees that generators of aerosols cans in Category #2 can avail themselves of the exclusion in 

40 CFR 261.2(c)(2)(ii), the question then arises whether generators of aerosol cans containing 

another hazardous constituent, such as the contents of aerosol cans in Category #3, can also 

rely on the fuel exclusion. Similar to the discussion related to Category #2, Walmart proffers 

that aerosol cans in Category #3 also contain fuels that are destined to be used as fuel, and 

hence should not yet be deemed a solid waste when they are stored and sent to be used as 

fuel. Rather, the facility that receives the aerosol cans in Category #3 will become the generator 

of separate streams of materials upon processing, with some streams being excluded (i.e. fuel) 

and some streams being regulated (i.e. contents).12 GRR has presented authorized processes 

in Exhibit 2 that address all components of aerosol cans, including the propellant, the contents, 

and the metal can. 

Management of Aerosol Cans in Category #4

The 19% of aerosol cans represented by Category #4 utilize either ignitable propellants 

that are not traditional fuels or have contents that may be hazardous by characteristic or listing. 

Despite a facility such as GRR having the means to legitimately recycle all components of 

aerosol cans in Category #4, Walmart is not aware of any current basis under RCRA for 

generators not to manage these aerosol cans as solid waste, and consequently hazardous 

waste. However, to the extent the 2008 DSW rule would allow such activities, which is unclear, 

it appears that the proposed amendments to the DSW rule might undo such capabilities.

At a minimum, if EPA could provide needed clarity regarding the management of aerosol 

cans in Categories #1-#3, then Walmart would have a basis to approach our supplier 

 

9

It is unclear whether the 2008 DSW rule or the currently proposed amendments to the DSW rule impact this 

analysis. However, to the extent the DSW rule covers used or unsaleable consumer products destined for 

recycling, any efforts to amend the DSW rule such that aerosol cans or other consumer products sent for recycling 

must be stored, transported, and counted as hazardous waste will deter and impede recycling efforts.

10 See 40 CFR 266.80

11 See page 16 of GRR presentation in Exhibit 2.

12 Prior to the physical separation of the components of the aerosol at the fuel recycler, the entire aerosol must be 

subject to the exemption because it is a single commercial chemical product.
community regarding the production of consumer products that are more amenable to recycling 

opportunities along with reduced regulatory burdens and implications.

Transportation of Aerosol Cans

A concern that has been expressed by EPA is that hazardous materials that fall outside 

of the hazardous waste manifesting requirements under RCRA will be wholly unregulated and 

endanger public health and the environment during transportation. This is simply not the case 

with aerosol cans. The Department of Transportation‟s hazardous materials regulations 

implemented by the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration oversee the safe 

transportation of hazardous materials such as compressed gases in aerosol cans. The 

regulations at 40 CFR 171, et seq., provide adequate safety and tracking measures through the 

maintenance of required shipping papers, labeling, and marking of aerosol cans which are 

regulated as Class 2 Hazardous Materials.13 Hence, these DOT rules apply to the shipping of 

all aerosols regardless of their RCRA status as solid or hazardous waste.

Conclusion

Walmart asks that EPA provide clarity that aerosol cans containing consumer products 

do not fall within the definition of “reactive” under 40 CFR 261.23(a)(6). Further, Walmart 

requests a regulatory interpretation of the solid waste exclusion for fuels in 40 CFR 

261.2(c)(2)(ii) that generators storing and then transporting aerosol cans with traditional fuel 

based propellants to a third party for the purposes of utilizing the fuel as a fuel may avail 

themselves of the exclusion. 

By providing this needed clarification to Walmart and the retail sector, EPA can help 

ensure that Walmart alone may eliminate more than 3 million pounds of hazardous waste 

annually, which is about 80% (Categories #1-#3) of the waste aerosol cans currently managed 

and largely incinerated as hazardous waste. Instead, the materials in aerosol cans may be 

beneficially reused, conserving energy and natural resources. Across the retail sector, millions 

of pounds of fuel will be used for its intended purpose instead of being land-filled or incinerated. 

Additionally, the scrap metal from all of the cans will be recycled. 

 

13 See generally, 40 CFR 172.101. When not destined for retail sale, liquidation, or donation, the consumer product 

aerosol cans discussed herein are generally transported as either 2.1(flammable) or 2.2 (non-flammable) 

compressed gases. Aerosol cans intended for retail sale, liquidation, or donation, are typically deemed “consumer 

commodities” and fall within a lesser class of regulated hazardous materials known as “ORM-D” or “other 

regulated material – domestic.” Walmart believes that the aerosol cans discussed in Categories #1-#4 would not 

currently meet the definition of ORM-D and would be transported as fully regulated, Class 2, hazardous materials, 

thereby providing significant safeguards and tracking mechanisms.