Are steel cans recyclable?
Steel cans are recyclable. Learn more about the production and recycling process. And, of course, learn how to dispose of yours.
Sardine cans , paint cans, tomato sauce cans, peas cans, corn cans. What do they have in common? They are all made of steel .
Steel is the most widely used metal alloy by mankind, consisting essentially of iron and carbon . Other chemical elements are added to steel to improve its characteristics of strength, ductility , hardness, etc. By adding chromium and nickel in the correct proportions, for example, steel becomes resistant to oxidation.
And this type of packaging, according to the Brazilian Steel Packaging Association (Abeaço) , brings several benefits to the content. Among them: great mechanical resistance, versatility, better conservation of the nutritional properties of food, it can also serve as a gift to the user and is fully recyclable .
But to better understand these properties, let’s take a look at the production of the material.
Production
Steel production begins with iron mining . This process is simple and can be done in the open air . At this stage, the material is crushed and then classified according to size. It is then washed with water jets to remove impurities such as clay and soil. Then, the reduction process takes place, which consists of removing oxygen from the ore, reducing it to iron, which will later react with the carbon in the coke to form CO2 . This process requires large amounts of thermal energy, which is provided by burning carbon, which is harmful to the environment.
The next stage is refining, in which pig iron is transformed into steel by reducing the carbon and other mineral content and introducing oxygen in a controlled manner. Later, the iron is alloyed: the carbon is added with various elements that give the metal the desired characteristics. This results in several different types of steel.
The recycling
Steel is 100% recyclable and its composition does not change during the recycling process . In order to save raw materials, steel industries often add steel scrap to produce more new steel. This means that every steel smelting plant is also a recycling plant .
Since steel is a magnetic metal, an electromagnet can be used to separate it from other metals mixed with it. Even though it is possible to separate steel from other metals or impurities, it is recommended that steel cans be clean when sent for recycling so that organic debris and soil do not hinder the process.
On average, a common steel can can be completely decomposed in three to ten years. Around 47% of all steel cans are recycled in Brazil, but this figure is still far below that of other countries. Belgium, for example, recycles around 96% of steel cans annually .
Steel cans are completely recyclable , meaning that when you throw them away in the recycling bin, they can come back to your home countless times, in the form of scissors, doorknobs, wire, cars, refrigerators or even new cans . There are only a few types of items, such as solvents, paints and other contents that contain harmful chemicals and must be returned to the manufacturers so that they can clean the waste before sending it for reuse.
Environmental damage
Steel itself does not cause much environmental damage, as it returns to the environment as iron oxide, which does not pose any risk of environmental contamination, according to studies carried out by the Packaging Research and Development Center (Cetea) .
The problem concerns iron mining (a component of steel ) and, consequently, deforestation. This is because large volumes of land are removed for ore processing. Carajás, a city located in Pará, for example, produces 100 million tons per year. This means approximately 123.5 km² of deforested area for this purpose. And these numbers tend to grow in proportion to demand in Brazil and worldwide.
In other words, there is no reason for you to stop recycling your steel cans. With widespread steel recycling , there is a significant reduction in the production of new steel . As a result, the extraction of iron ore and coal is greatly reduced. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption are reduced. But remember, always opt for conscious disposal, respecting the environment for a light footprint !