Things to doGive a class presentation to the rest of the school

about the steel cycle. You might like to show

examples of different types of packaging and

things made from steel, to demonstrate that

steel is magnetic, and to include some of the

facts about recycling that you have learnt.

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As you can see, the life of the can can

go on forever!2. The HomeWhen we’ve used the

contents we can wash

and squash the cans

and take them to the

can bank for recycling.

1. The Supermarket This is where we buy steel cans,

containing everything from soup

to shoe polish.

Stage 1

Stage 2

3. The local recycling facilitiesCan banks - This is usually found in supermarket car parks.

Magnetic Extraction - In some cities, a huge magnet is used to separate steel cans from the rubbish after it has been collected from your household.

Kerbside collection - In some places, people can put recyclable waste into a special bag. This is collected by the dustcart or a special lorry.

Stage 3

Stage 4

4. The steel plantThe steel is rolled into sheets that can

be made into car doors, cans and fridges

etc.

5. The can makerHere, the steel sheet is used to make

new steel cans. The cans are then ready

to be filled.

6. The fillerThe manufacturer fills and

seals the cans ready for

delivery to the shops.

Then we go back to Stage 1!

PUPIL’S CARD 5

Recycling: the steel cycle

Stage 5: The canmaker

Most food cans are made in three parts, the side, top and base. Drinks cans are in just two parts - the body and base are one part, the top is separate.

Stage 6: The filler

Cans are filled with a huge number of different products, including food, drink, paint and oil. The tops are then sealed, the cans are printed or labels are added and the product is ready to be distributed to shops.

Project

Pupils can make a miniature version of the huge electromagnets used by local councils to separate steel from other rubbish.

They will need:

A rectangular 4.5 volt battery, or a battery holder containing 2 or 3 1.5 volt batteries.

A large steel nail

A long piece of plastic coated wire (about 80 cm long)

A box of paperclips

One end of the wire should be connected to the battery and the wire wound around the nail at least 20 times. The other end of the wire should be connected to the other battery terminal. Pupils should put the nail close to a pile of paperclips and watch what happens.

The battery should then be disconnected, and the wire wound around the nail as many times as possible. When it is connected up again, pupils should see what happens. (The more times it is wound around the nail, the stronger the magnetic effect).

When electricity flows through the wire the nail is turned into an electromagnet.

The recycling process

Stage 1: The Supermarket

Three out of every four cans bought are made of steel and each can already contains up to 25% recycled steel.

Stage 2: The Home

Often called 'tins', steel cans contain anything from petfood andfizzy drinks, to biscuits and sweets. Practically every can you find in your cupboard can be recycled.

Stage 3: Local recycling facilities

Can banks

To recycle your steel cans, wash them, then squash them and take them to the can bank. There are over 5,000 can banks in Britain. The largest scheme is Save-a-Can which takes steel and aluminium cans.

Magnetic extraction

In some towns and cities, steel cans are separated from other rubbish by magnetic extraction. At the waste disposal centre, a giant electromagnet attracts the steel cans, which are then sent to the steel industry for recycling.

Kerbside collection

Some local authorities operate schemes which allow you to recycle from your doorstep. Bags or bins are provided for steel cans, glass bottles, etc. These are then collected and taken to local sorting depots.

Stage 4: The steel plant

Steel cans and other used steel are put into the steel-making furnace, along with molten iron. Oxygen is blown into this mixture, which is heated to about 1,700°C and refined into new steel. This new steel may be used to make more steel cans, or other items such as cars, trains and bridges. Different grades of steel can be rolled into sheets of varying thickness for a number of uses, e.g. car bodies and toaster castings. The steel for cans is then coated with a very thin layer of tin.

TEACHER’S CARD 5

Recycling: the steel cycle