Waste less, recycle more with steel food cans
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Recycling tip: Choose steel food cans
(shameless plug!)
Okay, perhaps we’re a
bit partial to steel cans.
When it comes to recycling, steel is as easy as it gets – for consumers and recycling centers. Just rinse the used can and toss it into a recycling bin. At the recycling facility, it gets pulled out with magnets. That magnet-friendly vibe is exactly why steel cans have the highest rate of recyclability of all packaging materials.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Avoid materials that are not easily recyclable. And if you must purchase hard-to-recycle materials, reuse them to give them at least a second or third life. And, of course, recycle everything you can, like, you guessed it — steel food cans!
Rinse it out.
Rinse out food containers to increase the material’s chance of getting recycled. This also keeps odors down and might reduce how often you need to take your recycling out. (Aaah, the little things, right?)
Recycle the can top, too.
The top of the can is recyclable, too, and can constitute as much as 15% of the steel in a can. So, when recycling, make sure to include the top as well. Simply drop the top inside the can as you discard it.
Avoid hard-to-recycle materials.
Not all packaging materials are as easy to recycle as steel cans. Many have incredibly low recyclability rates. So, they end up in landfills, or even worse, everywhere else that’s not a landfill. Like woodlands, oceans, and parks. Not good.
Know the “what’s what?”
Research the environmental impact of the products you buy and the companies you support. This type of information is easy to find with a quick web search — just make sure you go to reliable sources like the Environmental Protection Agency, The Recycling Partnership, and Keep America Beautiful. For more on the companies themselves, go to company websites and read their sustainability reports.
Local Recycling Guidelines
Find out the specific local rules or guidelines within your area. Many cities and localities have their own rules and regulations concerning recycling practices. Go to https://how2recycle.info/check-locally to find out about yours.
