What is steel?
Steel is a very hard and strong metal that is made mainly from iron extracted from iron ore, and a small amount (around 2%) of carbon. Pure iron is quite soft, but the carbon hardens it. Making steel involves melting at very high temperatures, purifying (refining) and adding other metals to make alloys.

• Australia produces some of the best quality iron ore in the world, but it won't last forever so it's important to conserve it.
• It takes around 872 kg of iron ore, 488 kg of coal and 41 kg of limestone to make one tonne of steel.
  
  What happens to the steel cans we put out for recycling?
  
  Step 1 - Separation
  Trucks take the recycling to a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) where it is pushed on to a conveyor belt. Because steel is magnetic, it can be separated from the other recyclables using a magnet and/or sorted by hand.
  
  Step 2 - Baling
  Cans are squashed into large, heavy blocks called bales and transported to the steelworks.
  
  Step 3 - Shredding, Compacting
  The steel is shredded, compacted even tighter and steel cans are immersed in a special alkaline bath to remove the outer layer of tin.
  
  Step 4 - Melting
  The cans are melted down in the furnace, along with other scrap steel and other ingredients.
  
  Facts
  • All steel cans are 100% recyclable.
  • Steel cans can be recycled into products such as cars, white-goods, and more steel cans.
  • In Australia, steel makes up approximately 2.5% of the garbage that goes to landfill.
  • Each Australian uses about 6kg of steel cans each year, and about 3.5kg per person ends up in landfill.
  • Recycling steel scrap saves 75% of the energy it takes to make steel from raw materials like iron ore and coal.
  • Steel can be recycled over and over and still produce a high quality product.
  • It takes around 15,000 steel cans to make one tonne of recycled steel.
  • Australia is now recycling over 910 million steel cans a year.
  • In a recent study, Australia was ranked 12th in the world in terms of steel can recycling - we recycle 56%.
    
    Recycling Tips - Sort it, check it, keep it clean
    • Make sure your steel cans are rinsed and empty.
    • Don't put cans inside one another or inside other containers.
    • You can recycle empty aerosol cans but remove the nozzles if possible.
    • Other steel household items that are being discarded, such as sinks, whitegoods or car parts should be taken to your local Waste and Recycling Centre for recycling.
      
      Take Care!
      Don't put steel cans that have contained paint or chemicals into the recycling or garbage bin. Instead take them along to your local Waste and Recycling Centre or a chemicals collection day. Paint and chemicals can damage other recycling and prevent it from being separated and reprocessed. It is also hazardous to workers in the industry.
      
      Don't put used gas bottles in the recycling or garbage bin - they could cause an explosion! Exchange them at the Swap and Go at the local garage or take them to the local Waste and Recycling Centre.
      
      Steel Recycling
      In Australia, around 56% of steel cans are recycled.
      
      Close the Loop and Buy It Back!
      There's no point in recycling if we don't buy back the products made from recycled materials. As consumers we can have a great influence on the kinds of products made available to us, by changing our shopping habits and choosing more environmentally-friendly products.
      
      The next time you go shopping, whether it's for home, school or play, remember that steel cans do have recycled content, and are being recycled every day. So you're doing more for the environment by putting your steel cans in the recycling bin, and by purchasing products in steel cans.
      
      Look for other products which are either made from recycled material or can be recycled, and if in doubt, don't be afraid to check with the manufacturers.
      
      Sources:
      WSN Environmental Solutions
      
      Bluescope steel
      
      Cansmart
      
      Visy Recycling
      
      Planet Ark