The Steel Can Recycling Council commissioned Newspoll to gauge householders' attitudes towards different types of steel can recycling.

The good news is that awareness about the recyclability of different types of steel cans including aerosols and paint cans has increased.

However, the "ick" factor is clearly still present with 82% of householders preferring to bin their pet food cans instead of recycling them.

So, awareness is growing but what about participation?

Whilst this year has seen a slight decrease in the number of councils with steel can recycling facilities, the national recycling rate of steel cans has increased slightly to reach 42%. National coverage, or access to steel can recycling, currently stands at 92%. For maps of Australia displaying steel can recycling rates and access state by state, and graphs showing the changes in such factors over the years, take a look at Around Australia.

So, householder commitment to steel can recycling continues but there is still work to be done in closing the gap between access to steel can recycling and householder recycling rates.

What is recyclable? - Householder awareness on the increase

According to the results of our recent research, householder awareness of most recyclable products is on the increase.

Item/year	2000	2001	% change
Aerosols	20%	44%	+24%
Food Cans	71%	82%	+11%
Aluminium Cans	90%	84%	-6%
Glass	93%	92%	-1%
Milk Cartons	90%	88%	-2%
Plastic Bottles	89%	91%	+2%

Source: NEWSPOLL SURVEY, August 2001

When asked about pet food cans only 39% thought they were recyclable with most saying they were non-recyclable and others citing "too messy" as reasons not to recycle.

Food manufacturers are key in increasing recyclability awareness

According to the householders we surveyed, most of the information about what is recyclable comes from on-pack labels, followed by council provided information:

Labels	56%
Council	36%
Media	22%
Schools	7%
Neighbours	4%

Source: NEWSPOLL SURVEY, August 2001

Golden Circle's Corn Kernels is one of the first food products to carry the new Recyclable Steel Logo on its labelling. The new Logo, and other forms of the logo, all clearly let the consumer know that the steel packaging is recyclable.

Paint manufacturers in Australia showing increasing support for steel can recycling

Leading paint manufacturers Dulux, White Knight, Walpamur, British Paints, Berger and Wattyl Paints have already signed up to do their bit for the environment, adopting the new Recyclable Steel Logo shown here. The new logo makes it easy for consumers to see that empty paint cans can be recycled and need not be discarded to landfill.

According to our councils database, 48% of Councils that offer a steel can recycling service collect empty paint cans for recycling - up from 45% in 2001.