Metal Recycling Facts and Statistics

Food packaging is one of the main causes of metal waste. Different types of metal are used to create drink cans, food tins, and some fil packaging. It’s also used for other kinds of packaging such as for deodorants, paint tins, and many cleaning products. Once they’re used the packaging becomes waste.

Factories, manufacturing, and construction also create metal waste when using metal materials for various processes. Offcuts and metal swarf are common, while the tools used may become waste if they break or get damaged beyond repair. This includes things like nails, saws, metal hammers and materials.

The auto industry also creates lots of metal waste as many car parts are made from different types of metals. If a car is in an accident or undergoes repairs then many parts removed might be wasted, such as a dented bonnet or damaged alloys. Even empty tins of oil and paint are often waste metal items from garages.

The UK creates 10 million tonnes of scrap metal every year – including everything from drinks cans to car parts and pipes. Businesses and households produce a wide array of waste metal every day, which should be recycled where possible. Get a greater understanding of the scale of things with these facts and statistics about UK scrap metal:

• Only half of all metalis recycled in the UK
• The UK produces around 7 million tonnes of steel a year
• Households across the country get through 600 million aerosol cansand nine billion drink cans annually
• The average household uses 27 aerosols each year – 10 per person per year
• UK households produce 756,000 tonnes of metal packaging waste each year
• The good news is that around 574,000 tonnes of metal packaging are recycled – a recycling rate of 76%
• When buildings are demolished in the UK about 94% of steel is recycled
• More than 70% of steel packaging is recycled, according to reports from Tata Steel

One of the biggest sources of metal waste is empty drink cans. Most of these are made from aluminium or steel, which is 100% recyclable and can be turned into new cans almost endlessly. Here are a few facts about recycling metal cans:

• Recycling a single aluminium can saves enough energy to run a computer for 3 hours
• It’s quick to recycle an aluminium can – in as little as two months it can be recycled and returned to shop shelves in another form
• Tin cans take about 50 years to decompose, whereas an aluminium can may take 200 to 500 years to break down
• Recycling seven cans saves enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 26 hours
• An aluminium can could be recycled eight times a year, saving enough energy to produce 160 new cans

Always recycle metal where possible. Most metal packaging such as food tins, drink cans, and foil trays can be disposed of in household recycling bins, bags, or containers. Clean and dry them to remove any contaminants and double-check check your local authority accepts these items before disposal.

For any bigger and other types of scrap metal, you might be able to take them to your local household waste recycling centre (HWRC). Alternatively, arrange collection of your scrap metal by a licensed waste carrier. This ensures it’s removed legally and should be recycled responsibly whatever the type of metal.