Steel is a unique material because it always contains recycled steel. Each year, millions of tons of pre- and post-consumer steel products, including used steel cans, appliances, automobiles and construction materials, are recycled by steel mills into every ton of new steel produced.

The Steel Recycling Institute announced a recycling rate for steel of 68.7 percent in 2006. In addition, all new steel made last year contained a minimum of 25 percent steel scrap on average. To maintain this year-to-year recycling rate, the steel industry has become an efficient user of raw materials and has increased its demand for post-consumer scrap. The steel industry is one of the largest consumers of recycled materials in the world.

Even with this success, however, steelmaking continues to seek opportunities to further improve recycling stream, increase reuse of co-products and byproducts, and reduce releases to the environment.

We are committed to minimising the environmental impact of our operations and our products through the adoption of sustainable practices and continuous improvement in environmental performance. Our principles include:

• To meet the requirements of relevant legislation in the countries and regions in which we operate.

• To implement effective environmental management systems and to ensure the environmental awareness of our workforce, encouraging every employee to act in an environmentally responsible manner.

• To improve the environmental performance of our processes and products through research and development of new technologies, preventing and reducing emissions and releases, minimising waste and controlling noise.

• To contribute to sustainable development by using energy, water and raw materials more efficiently, thus optimising our use of natural resources.

• To promote the recovery, recycling and reuse of our products and to work with our customers to understand the environmental effects of our products throughout their life cycle.

• To monitor/ audit environmental performance and to report progress on policy objectives and improvement targets on a regular basis.

• To encourage suppliers and contractors to behave in a responsible manner and to maintain sound environmental practices.

• To respond to the concerns of local communities and other interested parties on environmental issues and to respect the general environment and wildlife habitats in and around our sites.

Recycled steel cans are used to make new steel products including cars, bridges, lawnmowers, stoves, and construction materials. Over 5400 BTU's of energy are conserved for every pound of steel recycled . The steel industry's annual recycling saves the equivalent energy to electrically power about 18 million households for a year. Every time a ton of steel is recycled, 2500 pounds of iron ore, 1000 pounds of coal and 40 pounds of limestones are preserved. (Source: School and College Magazine/ June 1993).

Tin cans are actually 99% steel, with a thin layer of tin added to prevent rusting. Recycling steel and tin cans saves 74% of the energy used to produce them from raw materials. At least 70-80% of the tin on a can is saved when you recycle it. This cuts down mining waste and preserves a valuable ere source.

Many benefits are gained from recycling as much steel packaging as possible including...

• Keeps steel in the ‘recycling loop’ and saves it from entering landfills

• Helps the UK to reach its target of recycling 54% of steel packaging

• Help protect the earth’s natural resources.

• Help preserve the environment

Every tonne of recycled steel packaging makes the following environmental savings:

• 1.5 tonnes of iron ore

• 0.5 tonnes of coal

• 40% of the water required in production

• 75% of the energy needed to make steel from virgin material

• 1.28 tonnes of solid waste

• Reduction of air emissions by 86%

• Reduction of CO2 emissions by 80%

• Reduction of water by 76%

• Benefits for councils and waste collectors

In addition to collecting steel for recycling, local councils and collectors can:

• Receive payments via a CanRoute centre for scrap steel packaging

• Help the UK meet its requirements for steel recycling targets

• Divert waste from landfill, thereby saving costs.