Recycling Steel

Steel is the most recycled material on the planet, more than all other materials combined, because it is solid and durable. Steel uses a lot of energy, but the good news is that it can be recycled repeatedly.

So, recycling can save a lot of energy by eliminating mining! Steel is easy to recognise, as it is magnetic, making it easy for machines to sort it from other recycled materials.

Waste steel is melted down with limestone and iron ore. It is then poured into moulds, cooled until it sets, and chopped into chunks.

How to recycle your tins and cans

Remove all packaging and wash out. This is best left to do all at once in your old washing up water instead of wasting running water just rinsing one at a time.

Read more about Recycle Michael here

Recycling Steel fun facts

Did you happen to know?

• 3 out of 4 cans in the UK are made of steel, which means about 15 billion cans yearly!
• Each year, 2 billion cans are recycled in Britain
• When steel is recycled, it can be used on cars, bridges, buildings or even another can
• It takes the same amount of energy to recycle four cans to make just 1 in the first place!
• 450 tonnes of steel cans were recycled in Bristol alone last year
• Recycled steel is often used for pipes, ship hulls, and bike frames.
• Each household uses approximately 600 steel cans per year
• All steel cans contain around 25% recycled steel.

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