Cans

Cans are usually made of steel or aluminium and we use the term 'can' to cover food tins, drinks cans and aerosols. Both steel and aluminium cans can be recycled. These include:

• Food tins (usually made of steel), eg baked bean tins, tomato tins

• Drinks cans (usually made of aluminium), eg fizzy drinks and beer cans

• Aerosol cans - these can be made of steel or aluminium, eg deodorant sprays, household polish cans etc. Aerosol cans must not be squashed.

Both steel and aluminium cans are ideal for recycling as the metal can be reprocessed with little deterioration in quality, meaning it can be recycled over and over again.

How to recycle cans

• Rinse out your food and drinks cans so they are clean for storing and ready for recycling. You do not need to remove the labels.

• Push down any metal lids of tins to prevent injury

• Remove the plastic top from aerosols but don't squash or puncture the can or try to remove the spray nozzle

• Put your cans in your collection box/bag/bin for recycling or take them to your nearest can bank

What type of cans can't be recycled?

Cans of paint cannot be recycled.

Did you know?

• Each household uses approximately 600 steel cans per year (Waste Online - metals information)

• A recycled aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours (Waste Online - metals information)

• In the UK we use 13 billion steel cans each year.  If we stacked them on top of each other, they would reach the moon – three times! (Ollie Recycles)

• Steel cans stick to a magnet whilst aluminium ones don't