Recycling Facts

Did you know that steel is the most recycled material in the world? According to World Steel Association estimates, the 20 billionth tonne of steel was recycled in October 2007. Almost all available steel is recycled.

In the construction sector, recycling rates vary between 50 and 90%, depending on the steel product and application. Construction steel can also be reused without reprocessing. This saves additional greenhouse gas emissions.

Steel and iron components make up around 65% of the average vehicle. Once all fluids have been drained and reusable parts removed from an automobile, scrap processors shred it and sell the valuable ferrous material to steel mills. The average recycling rate for steel and iron in cars is close to 100%.

Steel cans are the most recycled food and beverage container in the world. In South Africa and Japan recycling rates for steel packaging are close to 90%, and in Belgium the rate is 93%.

Steel-to-steel recycling means that a steel can is just as likely to become part of a bridge, a car, or a ship, in its next life. Steel is 100% recyclable. It can be recycled any number of times without loss of quality. It is one of the only materials that does not lose its properties when recycled.

Even after incineration steel can be recovered for recycling. This is made possible by the fact that steel is magnetic.
Recycled steel is as strong and durable as new steel made from iron ore.

To learn more about steel and recycling, visit the following websites:

www.recycle-steel.org (Steel Recycling Institute)

www.apeal.org (Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging)

www.collectacan.co.za (Collect-a-Can Ltd.)