It’s never been easier to make your metal matter in West Dunbartonshire!
When it comes to recycling, metal is hard to beat. That’s because it’s endlessly recyclable - every last bit can be turned into something else. And it’s a cycle that can go on for ever.
The food or drink cans and other metal packaging items you recycle at home could end up being transformed into any one of a wide number of new products, from a designer watch or a smartphone, to a washing machine or even a new bus!
Every time metal is recycled it saves energy, cuts greenhouse gas emissions and saves on landfill space – so it’s good news for the planet.
Best of all it doesn’t take a lot of effort on your part to make a big difference. All you need to do is drop your cans, empty aerosols, tins and foil in your blue recycling bin or bag – not the rubbish bin. It’s as easy as that!
So by recycling your waste metal packaging at home, you can reduce your carbon footprint and prevent valuable materials ending up in landfill.
How is waste metal transformed?
The empty can you recycle today could be back on the supermarket shelf as another can in as little as 60 days!
From your household recycling collection, the cans, foil and empty aerosols you save are taken to Greenlight Environmental’s processing site.
Metal packaging is made of either aluminium or steel. At the materials recycling facility the latest technology is used to separate the different metals before they are baled and sent for reprocessing. The process involves melting the metal; it is then cast into ingots which are sent on for manufacturing. The recycled metal is then used to produce all sorts of everyday items like cameras, irons and kettles as well as more food tins and cans.
That’s why it’s so important to do your bit – every piece of metal packaging you recycle will be used again and again for years to come. And every time it’s recycled we save energy, cut emissions – and reduce landfill areas and costs.
What can I recycle?
All metal is endlessly recyclable.
Please put the following items in your blue recycling bin or bag:
- Drink cans
- Food tins
- Pet food tins
- Empty aerosols
- Metal lids from jars and bottles
- Kitchen foil (clean)
- Foil trays (clean)
- Sweet / biscuit tins
Please make sure your aerosols are empty and foil and foil trays / food tins have been wiped or rinsed before adding these items to your recycling. Don’t worry about removing labels and just pop the lid inside, if there is one.
Some household metal items cannot be collected with your kerbside recycling, such as those listed below – BUT they can still be recycled! Please take such metal waste to your nearest Household Waste and Recycling Centre.
These items can be recycled at your Recycling Centre:
- Empty paint tins & lids
- Garden tools
- Pots and pans
- Crockery
- Nuts and bolts
- Door handles
- Bikes
- Electrical items
