Steel Food Cans/Tin Cans
See locations for this item (below)

• Rinse.  You do not have to remove labels. 
• Flattening cans is helpful since it reduces the volume but is not required. 
• Combine with other recyclables in your cart. 
• Do not place steel food cans/tin cans in plastic bags.

Flexible pie tins, if wiped/washed free of food debris can be recycled with other metal cans.

Do not recycle these items:  Any steel cans that contained paint, chemicals or other non-food materials.

• Seven million pounds of rebar from Gerdau Ameristeel, South St Paul, MN went into the rebuilding of the I-35W bridge.
• Every year, America throws away enough steel to reconstruct all buildings in Manhattan.
• The energy saved from recycling 1 pound of steel will light a 60 watt bulb for 26 hours.

What are steel food cans made into?
The recycling process called “detinning” separates the tin and steel so the 2 metals are recovered for reuse.  The 2 by-products, high grade steel pellets and tin ingots, are both remade into tinplate containers.  Most steel cans are used to make new cans for food products, paint, aerosol and other materials.

Anoka County staff obtained information for this resource by researching various directories, along with telephone verification. It is not an endorsement of the businesses listed, nor does it imply that the businesses are in compliance with applicable laws. Any omissions or inaccuracies are unintentional. For additional listings, we recommend the local telephone directory. ALWAYS CALL FIRST TO VERIFY INFORMATION BECAUSE POLICIES FREQUENTLY CHANGE.
 
This resource is intended for households only. The information does not pertain to wastes from businesses or organizations.

 
For more information about a location, including a list of all materials accepted at the location, click on the name.