Recycling metals
Household metal recycling is mostly about cans, foil, and the occasional pot or appliance, not about every metal object in a garage. Metals fall into two broad groups: ferrous metals, which contain iron and are usually magnetic, and non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum, copper, and brass, which generally are not. A magnet is still a useful first test on a scrap piece. Your curbside list, not the magnet, decides what belongs in the cart.
What the latest EPA figures show
EPA’s national Facts and Figures are current through calendar year 2018. Together, metals made up 25.6 million tons of municipal solid waste that year, and 8.72 million tons were recycled, a 34.1 percent recycling rate for all metals, according to EPA’s 2018 fact sheet.
On the ferrous metals page, EPA reports 19.2 million tons of ferrous metals generated (6.6 percent of MSW) and 6.36 million tons recycled, a 33.1 percent rate. The recycling rate for steel cans was 70.9 percent (1.1 million tons). EPA also estimated that about 510,000 tons of other steel packaging — strapping, crowns, and drums — were recycled that year.
On the aluminum page, generation was 3.9 million tons, or 1.3 percent of MSW, including 1.9 million tons of containers and packaging. The recycling rate for aluminum containers and packaging was 34.9 percent. Within that, beer and soft drink cans were recycled at 50.4 percent (0.67 million tons). EPA notes that its aluminum recycling figures represent cans; data on recycling of other aluminum product categories are not available in that table.
What usually goes in the curbside cart
Most U.S. programs accept empty aluminum beverage cans and steel (tin) food cans. Many also take empty, clean aluminum foil and trays, and some take empty aerosol cans. EPA’s common recyclables page says both aluminum cans and foil can be recycled, and it advises against crushing cans in single-stream programs, because crushed cans are harder for sorting equipment to detect. In multi-stream programs, crushing is not an issue.
Empty aerosol cans are accepted in some programs and not in others. If a can still contains product or is a hazardous-waste container (pesticides, some spray paints), it may belong at a household hazardous waste site instead. See EPA’s household hazardous waste page and your local list.
These items generally do not go in the mixed-recycling cart:
- Propane cylinders, helium tanks, and other pressurized vessels.
- Tangled wire, electronics, and batteries — those have their own programs. See Computers & Electronics and Batteries.
- Large scrap, appliances, and car parts. Those often go to a scrap yard, a municipal bulky-item pickup, or a retailer take-back, not the cart.
Stainless steel cups and other reusable metal
Reusable stainless steel cups and tumblers (Yeti, Stanley, and similar brands) should be used for as long as they hold up. When they are worn out, they usually do not belong in a curbside cart. The Recycle Guide accepts them for free mail-in recycling. Pack the empty cup — lids and silicone sleeves removed if they come off easily — and ship it to 16144 N. Main St, Jacksonville, FL 32218. You pay the postage, and no form is needed. Details are on Stainless Steel Cups.
How to prepare metal
- Empty and rinse cans. A light rinse is enough.
- Do not crush aluminum cans if you are on a single-stream route, per EPA’s guidance.
- Foil should be clean enough to ball up. Heavily food-soiled foil often belongs in the trash.
- Leave labels on unless your hauler says otherwise.
For a wider materials list, see Recyclable Materials and How to Recycle?. Drop-offs can be found through your city site or Earth911.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metal?
Ferrous metals contain iron — steel and cast iron are the everyday examples — and are usually magnetic. Non-ferrous metals, including aluminum, copper, and brass, generally are not. Scrap yards pay and sort them differently. For the household cart, follow the accepted-materials list rather than the magnet test alone.
Should I crush aluminum cans?
EPA says generally no if you are in a single-stream program, because crushed cans are harder to sort. In a multi-stream (source-separated) program, crushing is not a problem.
Are steel and aluminum cans recycled at different rates?
Yes, in EPA’s 2018 figures. Steel cans were recycled at 70.9 percent. Aluminum beer and soft drink cans were recycled at 50.4 percent. Both are still among the more successful packaging materials in the national data.
Can I put a worn-out Yeti or Stanley cup in the recycling cart?
Usually not. Mail empty stainless steel cups and tumblers to 16144 N. Main St, Jacksonville, FL 32218, or take bulky metal to a scrap program. You pay the postage for mail-in, and no form is needed.
What about empty aerosol cans?
Some programs accept them if they are completely empty; others do not. Cans that still contain product, or that held a household hazardous material, may need an HHW drop-off. Check locally before you put one in the cart.