Cans

FACT: Each year, the UK uses 14 billion cans. If these cans were placed end-to-end they would stretch 500,000 miles - the same distance as to the moon and back.

Your local District or Borough Council will offer a recycling collection service for cans, such as domestic food cans, pet food cans, and drink cans. Please rinse out your used cans before putting them out for collection.

Drinks cans are made of steel or aluminium or sometimes a mixture of both. Magnets can be used to check what material the can is made from. Place a magnet against the side of the can - if it sticks, it's steel. If it doesn't, it's aluminium.

Aluminium is the most valuable of our commonly recycled materials, and is one of the most important items to keep out of your dustbin. Aluminium can be recycled time and time again without significant loss of quality. Recycled aluminium goes back into the manufacture of food and drink cans.

Recycled steel can be manufactured into any steel product not just cans.