Recycle

It is no longer possible to recycle your empty aerosol cans using your clear sack, green  bin or communal recycling bin as there is a danger of them causing fires at the Smugglers Way Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Wandsworth, SW18.

There have been a number of explosions during the processing of Aerosols in the MRF  and, at the request of our waste management contractor, we have therefore stopped collecting Aerosols in the co-mingled recycling stream.

The explosions occur when the Aerosols are being compressed (baled) with other metals before transportation to the recycling re-processors.  These explosions have the potential to seriously hurt the employees working in the MRF and to instigate a fire.

The Aerosols will still be recycled when they are placed in the general waste stream (black bags). All our general waste is sent to an Energy from Waste plant to generate electricity and the metals are extracted for recycling from the ash produced in the combustion process.  The ash itself is also recycled into aggregate for use in the construction industry.

 

Reduce

Where possible buy pump sprays or roll on deodorants.