Used Airsol Cans: 2 Perforate or not 2 Perforate?

Question

I am talking about spray cans. The european cans will say "do not perforate even after use" but many asiatic cans (eg Japanese ones) will say "please perforate after use".

I am in Europe and always perforate them. I know it helps prevent small explosions when they deal with them, also I can squash them better.. What do you do and why and where do you live??

Answer 1

Ahh.. why bother?  Just throw them in the fire!

:P

It is really up to you. The European Caution is there as a safety warning for the consumer.  If you feel comfortable they won't blow up in your face when you poke a hole in them, then by all means squash 'em down.  If you are worried about it, then leave them alone.

<edit>  Heat from the sun through a garbage can is not enough to cause an empty spray can to explode.  It will take an empty can about 15 minutes in a direct fire to even fizzle (I know, I tried once! DO NOT do that!!)

As for us Americans, we do not poke holes or flatten, they are placed in the rubbish or recyclers and the trash collector facilities handles the dirty work with machines that can withstand the "blast" should there be one.

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