How to Recycle Steel Cans
We use products packaged in steel cans every day. Every time you reach for a can of soup, a can of vegetables or a can of beef stew, you'll end up with a steel can that needs disposed of. Feed your cat or dog or paint your living room, and you'll have even more steel cans. After you accumulate a bag of steel cans, how do you get rid of them? There's an eco-friendly way to dispose of them. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Place a large garbage bag in your garage, shed or other out-of-the-way place outside your home. To recycle steel cans, you'll place them in this bag as they are emptied.
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Rinse out common steel cans that contained food products. Rinse the lid off and place it inside the can. You may mash the cans if you want, to save space. Then, place them into the garbage bag to recycle.
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Use up all the paint that was packaged in a steel can. Leave the lid off the can and allow the remaining paint to dry. Paint cans that have just a thin layer of dried paint inside, and on the lid, can be recycled. Place the lid back on the paint can and toss them into the bag for recycling.
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Remove the plastic lids, then place steel aerosol cans into the garbage bag to recycle. Don't attempt to mash the cans or puncture them.
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Toss all other emptied steel cans into the garbage bag to recycle them. Find out if a can is made of steel by placing a magnet against it. If the magnet sticks, the can is steel.
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Set the garbage can full of steel cans out if you have a curbside recycling program in your community. Or, take the cans to a local recycling dropoff center. To find a center near you, call the sanitation department of your city. Or, visit the Earth911.com website (see resources) and use their recycling center locator.
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Tips & Warnings
Be careful when you're handling sharp lids and steel cans when you recycle them.
