In light of World Recycling Day (18th March 2022), we are exploring which metal coated products can be recycled in this Alphatek blog.

Alphatek offers world-class metal spray coatings, thermal spray coatings and fluoropolymer coatings to a wide range of industries, including the automotive, print and paper, glass manufacturing and rail coatings industry.

With so much experience in developing and providing metal spray coatings, we have developed an understanding of which metals (and metal coated products) can and cannot be recycled.

What Is World Recycling Day?

Global Recycling Day (also known as World Recycling Day) is held every year on 18th March and was created by the Global Recycling Foundation. According to the GRF, there are two main aims to the annual event:

  • To encourage world leaders to recognise recycling as a global issue
  • To encourage people across the world to think “resource, not waste”, when using goods.

The event aims to recognise the importance of recycling, celebrate recycling initiatives and the people behind them, and encourage recycling around the world.

Each year, individuals, organisations, businesses, schools and communities mark Global Recycling Day through education and events. There is also the opportunity to nominate a “Recycling Hero” that has gone above and beyond to recycle.

This year, Global Recycling Day will focus on the “recycling fraternity”. The annual event will highlight the individuals and organisations that worked hard on the front line to ensure recycling continued throughout the many COVID-19 lockdowns. Ten “Recycling Heroes” are to be announced on the day.

The Importance Of Recycling

Recycling is the process of turning a product or item into raw materials, which can then be re-used to create a new product.

By recycling a product, we are preventing it from ending up in landfill sites, which are currently contributing to a series of environmental issues. For example, landfills are one of the biggest contributors to soil pollution.

As well as reducing the amount of trash that ends up in landfill sites, recycling has a range of environmental and economic benefits.

By recycling, we are actively reducing ocean pollution – unfortunately, there are an estimated 25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. Recycling also saves a considerable amount of energy – it takes almost 95% less energy to recycle aluminium than it does to create aluminium from raw materials.

Plus, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, decreases the need to harvest new raw materials and saves money.

Can Metal Coated Products Be Recycled?

Many metals can be recycled – especially household products. This includes tin, aluminium and steel cans and aluminium foil, trays and tubes. But most metal coated products should not be recycled as they often contain chemicals.

In general, you should not recycle:

  • Paint cans
  • Motor oil cans
  • Household pots and pans (as they often are coated with Teflon)
  • Any other chemically-coated kitchenware
  • Propane gas tanks
  • Any metal item that may contain mercury or lead.

Recycling Different Products

By actively recycling the products we use every day, we can collectively make a huge difference to the environment.

You may be surprised by how many items can be recycled, including the vast majority of your household items and products. Recycling varies from location to location so it is always best to check with your local recycling centre if you are unsure.

Let’s start with outlining the items you generally should not recycle:

  • Polystyrene
  • Plastic bags
  • Soiled food containers/soiled paper products
  • Plastic utensils
  • Broken/sharp glass
  • Hygiene/sanitary products
  • Nappies and wipes (unless biodegradable)
  • Cotton wool products
  • Wallpaper
  • Cardboard food and drink cartons (unless stated on the carton)
  • Glass cookware, ceramics, drinking glasses, mirrors, window glass, lightbulbs
  • Plastic bottles containing chemicals (anti-freeze etc.).

What can be recycled?

  • Paper and card – newspapers, magazines, white paper, telephone directories, envelopes, shredded paper, cardboard boxes, corrugated cardboard, card egg boxes, brown paper.
  • Glass – Glass bottles (of any colour), glass jars, non-food bottles including perfumes etc.
  • Plastic – all clear and plastic bottles other than ones that contain strong chemicals, pots, tubs, trays, clear plastic packaging, cosmetics bottles etc.

Find out more about what you can and can’t recycle here.

Want To Know More About Metal Coatings?

Here at Alphatek Hyperformance Coatings, we are a leading independent thermal spray coating specialist with decades of experience.

Our innovative team provides complete metal spraying, thermal spray coatings, fluoropolymer coating and finishing services to customers across the UK.

We are proud to say that many of our thermal spray coatings are proprietary and have been developed specifically to meet customers’ specific application requirements.

I hope we have answered your question ‘Can Metal Coated Products Be Recycled?’. If you would like to find out more about our services, or you have any questions, get in touch with the Alphatek team today.