The use of can flatteners in MRFs for processing material including post consumer aerosols — a risk assessment

Abstract

The health and safety issues associated with the recovery of post consumer aerosol cans through MRFs are generally the same as those associated with other recyclables and as such are covered by normal MRF operating procedures. The main hazards specific to the recycling of post-consumer aerosol cans are the generation of flammable atmospheres during can compaction and sort operator exposure to contents of aerosol cans. Previous risk assessments have tended to concentrate on the processing of recovered material using baling presses for compaction. References to the use of can flatteners and shredders provide insufficient data for assessment of risks. This report describes a series of MRF based tests in which can flatteners were used to compact recovered steel and aluminium cans, with known proportions of post consumer aerosol cans present. The trials were carried out under conditions representative of those encountered in normal MRF operation. The experience gained and data collected was used as the basis of a risk assessment. Data was generated through eight can flattening tests with a metal handling rate of 250 kg/h and up to 7.5% aerosol cans by weight. Over a tonne of metal cans and nearly 340 post consumer aerosol cans were processed without any problems being observed. The risk associated with processing material including post consumer aerosol cans by can flattener may be reduced by promoting the recovery of only empty post consumer aerosols and following good operational practices and the recommendations made in this risk assessment.