recognising steel

Many of today's cans display one of several recycling symbols. The recyclable steel symbol is used across Europe and is recommended by the European Packaging Industry.

The logo emphasizes the magnetic properties, unique to steel, which make the recovery of steel cans and other steel packaging easy. Steel is magnetic, so large industrial electromagnets can be used to recover steel cans from household rubbish, (see collection of steel packaging by magnetic extraction).

To test whether or not a can is steel, simply hold a magnet to the side of it. If it sticks, it's STEEL!