Predominantly used for canned food like soup or tuna, most Australians can recycle steel cans via their household recycling bin (use the information on this page to check or contact your council directly if you are unsure).
Follow these steps to recycle steel cans at home:
Empty the can so there is no food inside.
Give the can a quick rinse if there is excess food (small bits of scrap foods are fine – it does not need to be perfectly clean).
If the can has a steel lid (like a tuna can), put the lid inside the can and recycle them together.
If the can has a lid made from a different material like plastic, remove the lid and only recycle the can.
Recycling tips
Steel cans can be used to collect steel caps from glass drink bottles. Put the steel caps inside the can and once it’s full, squeeze the top of the can to close it off so the caps can’t escape.
To recycle plastic lids, they must be 5cm in diameter (about the size of most people’s palms). Always check with our council to see if they acceptplastic lids in recycling bins, as each council will have its own rules.
What about paint cans?
While paint cans or tins are made from steel, they should never be put in your recycling bin at home. They must be dropped off at a designated recycling point so they can be recycled separately. Putting paint cans in your recycling bin will damage the other materials in the bin and possibly prevent them from being recycled. Find a recycler for paint cans.
What about aerosol cans?
Most Australians can put empty aerosol cans in their household recycling bin. Cans that still have contents inside are hazardous and should not be put in your garbage or recycling bin. Find a recycler for aerosol cans.
Why recycle?
As steel is a non-renewable resource (i.e.there is only a finite amount of steel on the planet), it is important to recycle steel materials where possible to ensure valuable resources are not lost to landfill.
Steel is one of the world's most recycled products and is 100% recyclable. It’s also infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be recycled again and again without losing quality.
Recycling steels saves energy, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Making steel from recycled cans uses 75% less energy than when producing steel from raw materials.
Wat happens to them?
Steel cans that are collected for recycling are sent to a recycling facility where they are sorted from other recyclables like plastic and paper. The cans are then processed into raw materials so they can be used to make new products cans, railway tracks and car parts.
Recycling large quantities
Businesses or workplaces with large quantities of steel cans (such as paint cans/tins) to recycle can use a commercial recycling service.
Metals are extremely valuable resources that can be easily recycled.
Aerosol cans
Most Australians can put empty aerosol cans in their household recycling bin. Cans that still have contents inside are hazardous and should not be put in your garbage or recycling bin.
Stainless steel water bottles cannot be recycled via your household recycling bin. However, they may be accepted by a local scrap metal recycler (it is advised to call in advance to check).
What can steel be recycled into?
Steel is infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be recycled again and again without losing quality. As steel is a non-renewable resource (there is only a finite amount of steel on the planet), it is important to recycle steel materials where possible to ensure valuable resources are not lost.
The two types of steel generally accepted in household recycling bins across Australia are empty steel cans (such as tuna and soup cans) and empty aerosol cans. However, some Australian councils do not accept empty aerosol cans in household recycling, so you should check for local guidance on this.
For other steel items that are not accepted in your household recycling bin, you may want to contact a local scrap metal recycler. Steel paint cans can be dropped off at one of the many Paintback locations across Australia.
When you recycle your steel cans via your household recycling bin, they are initially separated from other recyclables at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) via magnets. The cans are then crushed and transported in bales to metal re-processors where the steel is melted down and recycled into new steel products including more steel cans, car parts, washing machines, fridges and metal sheeting.
Can you recycle galvanized steel?
Galvanised steel (steel with a corrosion resistant zinc coating) is 100 % recyclable. However, unlike steel cans, galvanised steel cannot be recycled via your household recycling bin. Instead, contact a local metal recycler to see if they’ll accept it.
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