Here Is What to Do With Your Expired Bear Spray
Here Is What to Do With Your Expired Bear Spray
When hiking in bear country, carrying bear spray is a must in case of an aggressive animal encounter. But since it’s something you usually only reach for during bear season, it’s easy to forget about once it’s stashed away. And because bear charges are rare, and bear spray isn’t exactly cheap, you might be tempted to hold on to an expired canister a little longer. The thing is that expired bear spray still needs proper attention. Here’s how to handle it.
Inside each canister is a pressurized propellant and a potent concentration of oleoresin capsicum, an extract from cayenne peppers that contains capsaicin, the same fiery compound that gives spicy foods their kick. In bear spray, capsaicin makes up one to two per cent of the formula and works by temporarily irritating a bear’s eyes, nose and lungs, giving you a crucial window to safely back away.
For bear spray to be effective, it needs to fire in a strong, steady burst lasting at least seven to eight seconds and reach a distance of six to 12 metres. While it should only be used as a last resort, bear spray is an essential safety tool for anyone spending time in the backcountry—but only if it’s easily accessible, you’re familiar with how to use it properly and, most importantly, it hasn’t expired.
Why Bear Spray Expires
Most bear sprays have a shelf life of three to five years, with the expiration date usually printed on the bottom or side of the canister. To make sure it works when you need it most, it’s important to replace your bear spray once it expires, if it’s been used or if it’s been exposed to extreme heat or cold, which can impact pressure and performance.
What diminishes over time isn’t the potency of the capsaicin, but the pressure inside the can. Even if you’ve never used it, small amounts of propellant can slowly leak out through the seals or valve. If the pressure drops too low, the spray might not release properly or at all, making it ineffective in a bear encounter.
What to Do with Expired Bear Spray
Because bear spray is classified as household hazardous waste (HHW), it needs to be handled with care once it expires. While there currently aren’t any official retailer take-back programs, some local fire halls, police stations and national park visitor centres accept expired canisters for proper disposal. But not every location offers this service, so it’s best to call ahead and double-check before making the trip.
If the Canister’s Empty
Each municipality has its own guidelines for recycling and waste disposal. In Vancouver, if your bear spray canister is past its expiry date and completely empty, you can safely throw it in the garbage.
If the Canister’s Full
If your bear spray canister is still full, or even partially full, don’t empty it yourself, not even in an open forest or an empty parking lot. The active ingredient remains potent, and studies have shown that the lingering scent can actually attract bears instead of keeping them away. Plus, improper release can pose risks to people, pets and wildlife. Instead, reach out to your local hazardous waste facility. They’re equipped to safely handle pressurized containers, along with other HHW items like old paint cans, flammable liquids and pesticides.
In BC, drop off expired bear spray at designated recycling stations, where a small fee per canister is typically charged for proper disposal.
In Alberta, you can safely dispose of your bear spray for free at designated HHW drop-off centres, local fire stations or eco-centres. Calgary, for example, offers several convenient locations that accept them.
If you’re in Ontario, just bring your expired canisters to designated transfer stations that accept HHW for free, with plenty of locations across the Toronto area.
If you’re not near a designated recycling depot, check with your municipality about Community Environment Days. These special events are part of broader waste reduction initiatives aimed at keeping reusable materials out of landfills. Designed to help residents safely dispose of items that can’t go in the regular trash, like HHW and electronics, it provides a convenient and responsible way to dispose of things you no longer need.
