Metal recycling
Many of the food and drink products we buy are packaged in cans made from either aluminium or steel and both of these materials can be recycled after we have finished with them to make either new cans or other items.
It’s really easy to recycle cans and tins in your blue lid bin. Just make sure they are empty, clean and dry.
How is it recycled?
- Magnets are used to separate steel and aluminium cans
- Cans are shredded, cleaned and melted.
- The molten metal is poured and cooled into large blocks which are then used to make new items.
Environmental benefits
Steel and aluminium cans can be recycled over and over again with no loss of quality. Therefore by recycling your metal cans you will be:
- reducing the need to quarry for the raw materials needed to make new cans
- conserving non-renewable fossil fuels as recycled cans uses less energy
- reducing the emission of harmful gasses into the atmosphere as less CO2 is products when using recycled metal
- reducing waste sent to landfill
New products
Recycled aluminium is most often turned into new cans which can be done in as little as 8 weeks! It can also be turned in new engine parts and used in construction.
Recycled steel can be turned into many new products such as:
- bicycle frames
- pipes
- train tracks
- ship hulls
- cars
- bridges
- paperclips
- food and drinks cans
Different types of metals and the problems
There are many items that are made from metal which can make it confusing to know which ones can go in your blue lid recycling bin, as not all can be accepted.
Food tins, drink cans, aerosols and aluminium foil can be recycled in the blue lid bin. All other items must not be placed inside the bin.
Yes to: Drink cans, food tins, biscuit and chocolate tins, empty aerosols, clean aluminium foil and clean take away trays.
No to: Crisp packets and sweet wrappers, food pouches, paint and chemical tins, pipes, electricals, pots, pans and cutlery.