Image credit: Author with Ai and Wei Cheng
A small action you can take to contribute to the well-being of the planet is to start monitoring the number of cans you use on a weekly basis. Whether they contain food, soda, or come in the form of aerosol cans, all metal cans—whether aluminum or steel—are endlessly recyclable. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, over 90% of co-products from the steelmaking process are either reused or recycled, presenting encouraging news. However, if you're not adhering to proper recycling practices, there's a risk of contaminating an entire batch of recyclable materials.
Since metals are finite natural resources and cannot be replaced as rapidly as they're consumed, their supply is limited. This emphasizes the importance of recycling your cans. Additionally, metals can undergo recycling repeatedly without a loss in material quality. It's advisable to get in touch with your local recycling center to understand the most effective procedures for recycling metal cans. Some facilities might request that you deliver the cans directly to the recycling center instead of placing them in your regular recycling bin.
Here's a guide on how to responsibly recycle your metal cans and what practices to avoid. For more information, explore details about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Which types of metal cans can be recycled?
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All metal cans are recyclable, and examples include:
Beverage cans, such as soda and beer, including the tabs
Paint cans
Canned goods
Milk Powder Cans
Aerosol cans
Cleaning metal cans
Avoid this: Discarding cans into the recycling bin without cleaning them. If there are leftover foods or liquids in the cans, it can contaminate an entire batch of recyclables.
Do this instead: Ensure that all cans are free from liquids or food residues by rinsing them after use.
Additionally, check with your local recycling center to determine whether you need to remove paper labels from the cans or if it's part of their processing.
Dealing with lids:
For canned goods: Don't partially remove the lid before placing it in the recycling bin. Instead, fully detach the lid from the can and insert it inside the can (after rinsing, of course).
For aerosol cans: Since lids on aerosol cans are typically plastic, remove them before placing the cans into the bin. Plastic lids should be disposed of with other plastic recyclables.
What additional steps should be taken?
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1. Refrain from puncturing aerosol cans to extract any remaining liquid.
2. Ensure that all paint is either thoroughly dried or completely rinsed out before placing it in the recycling. If you have leftover paint or other hazardous waste, consider taking it to a nearby drop-off centre.
3. Avoid crushing aluminum cans before recycling, as this can lead to contamination of the entire batch.
For more details on recycling, explore proper procedures for recycling plastic and the correct methods for recycling paper and cardboard.
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