Recycling metal: cans, foil and scrap

Steel food cans and aluminium drink cans are kerbside recycling staples almost everywhere. But foil, aerosols and scrap metal all need a little more thought — here's what to do with each.

Why metal recycling is genuinely excellent

Unlike paper or many plastics, metals do not degrade during the recycling process. An aluminium drink can melted down and rolled into new sheet aluminium is just as good as one made from freshly mined bauxite ore. Steel cans are the same: the recycled metal is indistinguishable from virgin steel in most applications. This means there is, in theory, no limit to how many times metal can be recycled — it just gets used again and again.

The energy savings from recycling metal versus primary production are substantial. Producing aluminium from ore requires an enormous amount of electricity; recycling it requires far less — which is why the industry invests heavily in collecting every can it can. Steel recycling also saves significant amounts of energy and reduces the need for iron ore and coking coal, both of which have large extraction footprints.

In practical terms, this means that putting your tins and cans in the right bin is genuinely worthwhile — more so than with many other materials, because the recycling loop for metal is efficient and the material doesn't wear out.

What's collected kerbside — and what to check locally

Most kerbside recycling schemes in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia accept the following metals without question:

• Steel/tin food cans — baked beans, soup, tomatoes, pet food, tinned fish. The term "tin can" is traditional; most are steel with a thin tin coating.
• Aluminium drink cans — soft drinks, beer, sparkling water, energy drinks.
• Steel aerosol cans — when completely empty (see the aerosol section below).

The following are accepted in many schemes but not all — check your local guidance before including them:

• Aluminium foil and foil trays — takeaway containers, roasting trays, baking moulds, kitchen foil. Widely recyclable but not accepted everywhere, and only when not heavily soiled.
• Metal lids — the small lids from glass jars and bottles. Often too small for sorting machinery to handle reliably; some areas ask you to collect them separately in a larger tin.
• Empty paint tins — metal paint cans may be accepted when completely dry and empty. Check locally.
• Bottle caps — as with metal lids, rules vary. Collect them in a tin and close the lid to keep them together so they don't fall through sorting screens.

Generally not suitable for kerbside bins:

• Scrap metal — pipes, wire, old pots and pans, broken appliances. These need to go to a recycling centre or scrap dealer (see below).
• Sharp metal — razor blades, broken metal. Wrap carefully and check local guidance.
• Pressurised containers that are not empty — never put these in any recycling bin.

How to prepare cans and foil

Getting metal ready for recycling takes less than a minute per item. Good preparation keeps the recycling stream clean and reduces the risk of your items being rejected at the sorting facility.

1. Empty the can completely. Tip out any remaining food or liquid. Tilt the can to drain it fully — a can with food sitting in the bottom can cause contamination and bad smells in the recycling bin.
2. Give it a light rinse. A quick swill of cold water removes residue. You don't need to scrub cans spotless — a light rinse is all that's needed. This matters more in warm weather when food residue will ferment and attract pests.
3. Squashing cans — check your local rules. Some schemes ask you to squash cans to save space; others prefer them unsquashed so the automated sorting equipment can identify them by shape. Check your local guidance. If in doubt, leave them as they are.
4. The foil scrunch test. For aluminium foil and foil trays, scrunch the foil into a ball. If it holds its shape and stays scrunched, it's generally suitable for recycling. If it unfolds again immediately (like a very thin film), it may be too thin or too contaminated to be worth recycling in your local scheme.
5. Clean foil before recycling. Remove large food residues from foil trays. You don't need to wash them perfectly, but heavily food-coated foil trays (caked with grease or burnt food) may be rejected at the sorting facility. A quick wipe or rinse helps.
6. Keep small metal items together. Collect bottle caps and small metal lids inside a larger steel tin, then close (or scrunch over) the top. This stops them falling through the sorting machinery and ending up in the wrong stream.

Aerosol cans: the rules

Aerosol cans — hairspray, deodorant, shaving foam, cooking spray, spray paint — are made of steel or aluminium and can be recycled in many kerbside schemes. But they come with one important rule.

To use up an aerosol fully, press the nozzle until no more product comes out and the sound of propellant has stopped. Leave the cap off briefly to let any remaining pressure dissipate, then replace the cap. Check whether your local scheme accepts aerosols — most UK and many European schemes do; some areas in North America accept them at recycling centres only. Never put a part-full aerosol in any recycling bin or general waste bin.

If you have partly used aerosols you no longer want, they may be classified as hazardous household waste. See our guide to hazardous household waste for how to dispose of them safely.

Larger scrap metal

Old pots and pans, broken appliances, metal pipes, wire, garden tools, bike frames and similar bulky metal items cannot go in the kerbside recycling bin. They are, however, highly recyclable and there are straightforward routes to recycle them.

• Household waste and recycling centres (tips/tips/transfer stations). Most local authority recycling centres have dedicated metal skips where you can drop off scrap metal free of charge. They usually accept a wide range of metals — white goods, pans, pipes and general scrap. Check your nearest centre's accepted materials list before you go.
• Licensed scrap metal dealers. Scrap dealers accept metal and may pay for larger quantities of higher-value metals like copper, aluminium and brass. In many countries, scrap dealers are required by law to be licensed and to record transactions, so take ID if required. Prices vary with commodity markets, so don't expect a fixed rate.
• Charity shops and online platforms. Before scrapping something that still works — an old bike, a set of tools, a metal shelf unit — consider whether someone else could use it. Reuse is always higher up the waste hierarchy than recycling.
• Council bulky waste collections. Some local authorities offer scheduled or on-demand collections of large metal items. Check whether your council offers this service.

When taking scrap to a recycling centre, separate metals from non-metals where you can — remove plastic parts, rubber handles and cables. This makes sorting easier and increases the value and recyclability of what you bring.

Deposit-return schemes for cans

Many countries and regions operate deposit-return schemes (DRS) that cover aluminium and steel drink cans alongside glass and plastic bottles. When you buy a drink covered by the scheme, a small deposit is added to the price — typically a few pence, cents or equivalent. Return the empty can to a designated return point (usually a machine in a supermarket, convenience store or dedicated return point) and you get the deposit back.

Deposit-return schemes tend to achieve very high collection rates for the containers they cover, because the financial incentive is immediate. Where a DRS exists, using it is one of the most effective things you can do with drink cans — the material collected is clean, sorted and ready for recycling with minimal contamination.

Countries with established DRS systems include Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Canada (some provinces), and several US states. The UK has been rolling out its scheme. If you're unsure whether your area has one, check with your local government or a quick search for "deposit return scheme" plus your country or state.

Reduce your metal packaging first

Recycling is valuable, but the waste hierarchy always puts reduction first. A few habits cut the amount of metal packaging you bring home in the first place:

• Buy loose fresh foods where available instead of tinned — though tinned food is still a good low-waste staple with a long shelf life, so it's a balance.
• Choose larger tins when buying tinned goods you use regularly — fewer cans for the same volume of food.
• Switch to refillable options where available: refillable deodorant sticks or solid deodorant bars instead of aerosols, for example.
• Use a reusable water bottle to avoid buying canned or bottled drinks on the go.

For more ideas on cutting packaging at source, see our guide to reducing plastic use — many of the same principles apply to metal packaging.

Your metal recycling checklist

• Empty and lightly rinse steel food cans and aluminium drink cans before recycling.
• Check whether your local scheme wants cans squashed or unsquashed.
• Test foil with the scrunch test; clean off heavy food residue before recycling foil trays.
• Only recycle aerosols when completely empty — never crush or pierce them.
• Collect small lids and bottle caps inside a larger tin to stop them falling through sorting machinery.
• Take scrap metal to your local recycling centre or a licensed scrap dealer.
• Check whether your area has a deposit-return scheme for cans.
• Always verify what your specific local scheme accepts — rules vary.