Everything you need to know about recycling steel paint cans
Steel Cans (Paint) includes:
Empty Paint Cans & Tins
FIND A RECYCLER
Learn more about recycling steel paint tins
How to recycle paint cans
Paint cans/tins can be recycled through commercial recyclers.
- Many scrap metal companies offer a combination of drop-off, pick-up and on-site collection bin services for ferrous scrap metal like iron and steel. Some on-site bin and collection services may incur a fee.
- Use the directory on this page to find a recycler near you.
How to use Paintback
Small businesses and traders can use Paintback to recycle used paint cans for free, even if there is paint inside. Simply find a location and drop off the paint. To learn more about Australia's product stewardship scheme for paint, visit Paintback.
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.
What happens to them?
Steel cans that are collected for recycling are sent to a recycling facility where they are processed into raw materials so they can be used to make new products like railway tracks and car parts.
Recycling other metals
Find recycling service for common scrap metals.
Aluminium scrap
Aluminium is a valuable resource which can be recycled infinitely with no waste. One tonne of recycled scrap aluminium will make one tonne of new aluminium.
Copper
Copper can be recycled infinitely as it does not degrade when processed. Recycling scrap copper can reduce emissions and energy output compared to production from virgin materials.
Iron and steel
Recycling ferrous metals, such as scrap iron and steel, can save up to 75 percent of the energy needed to make products from raw materials.
Lead
Lead is classified as a hazardous waste and is highly toxic to most species. Lead can be effectively recycled for reuse in new lead based products, diverting it from landfill and using less energy than refining primary ore.
Mercury
Mercury can be a potent neurotoxin which can affect human and animal health. When products that contain mercury are sent to landfill, they can contaminate the groundwater and release toxic compounds. Instead, we should recover mercury for use in new products.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Steel collected for recycling is taken to a recycling facility where it is crushed and transported in bales to metal re-processors. The steel is then melted down and recycled into new steel products including more steel cans, car parts, washing machines, fridges and metal sheeting.
