• Steel is one of the world's most recycled products. In fact, steel is 100% recyclable, which means its lifecycle is potentially continuous.

• Steel is easily picked out of garbage and recycling waste by the use of large magnets - paper, glass and cardboard can be far more time consuming as often they must be picked out by hand.

• Each Australian disposes on average about six kilograms of steel cans each year. About 3.5kg of this amount is disposed to landfill.

• Making steel from recycled cans uses 75% less energy than when producing steel from raw materials.

• Every tonne of steel recycled saves 1131 kg of iron ore, 633 kg of coal and 54 kg of limestone.

• It takes around 15 000 steel cans to form 1000 kilograms (or one tonne) of recycled steel.

• In Australia, steel makes up approximately 2.5% of the garbage that goes to landfill.

• Australia currently ranks 12th in the world for the percentage of steel cans that are recycled rather than sent to landfill.

• Many countries that have higher recycling rates have laws in place that ensure consumers recycle steel packaging. However, countries such as the United States rely on voluntary recycling but still outstrip Australia by 16%. The use of steel beverage cans help the US reach higher rates compared to Australia as we predominantly use aluminium beverage cans.

• A study in Sydney and Melbourne showed 86% of teenagers in the two cities report some involvement in family recycling.

International League Table of Steel Can Recycling

1. Luxembourg	93%
2. Japan	84%
3. Austria	79%
4. Germany	78%
5. Netherlands	77%
6. Belgium	77%
7. Sweden	68%
8. Switzerland	63%
9. Denmark	62%
10. United States	58%
11. France	52%
12. Australia	42%
13. UK	34%
14. Spain	33%
15. Italy	26%
16. Portugal	15%

Source: APEAL - Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging - Sept 02