GSIA’s FNSB Recycling (and reuse) Guide

Supported in part by:

Lynden Transportation / Alaska Marine Lines (AML) logo
Steel / tin food cans

Steel / tin food cans

Metals
Recycle

Accepted at 4 locations

Steel food cans (often called tin cans) are containers made of iron ore and tin that contain 99 percent steel, commonly used for packaging soup, vegetables, fruit, and other foods.

Source: www3.epa.gov : Materials Recovery Center | Recycle City | U.S. EPA (1)

Steel / tin food cans Summary

Also known as: Steel Cans, Tin Cans, Food Cans

Parent material: Metal Containers

Dive deeper ↓

Accepted Locations

C&R Pipe & Steel logo
C&R Pipe & Steel
Recycle
ResidentialFREEBusinessVaries
Address: 401 E Van Horn Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
DoRinse containers; remove food residue; remove labels when required
Don'tNo food residue
See details ›

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

FNSB Central Recycling Facility (CRF) logo
FNSB Central Recycling Facility (CRF) This location loves volunteers!
Recycle
~18 yd³ (9.2 tons) diverted · FY26
ResidentialFREEBusinessFREE
Address: 1855 Marika Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Get directions ›
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-5:30pm, Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm, Closed Sunday-Monday
DoRemove labels (cans with labels printed directly on the can OK)
Put paper labels from food cans in with your mixed paper recycling
Rinse / remove food residue
Check with a magnet if you are unsure about whether or not your cans are steel
Don'tDo not put aluminum food cans (most often pet food, tuna fish, etc) with your steel / tin cans
See details ›

Last updated on July 3, 2026 by Green Star GM

FNSB Landfill - ALSO City of Fairbanks Residential Transfer Site logo
FNSB Landfill - ALSO City of Fairbanks Residential Transfer Site
↳ part of Scrap Metal
Recycle
ResidentialFREEBusiness$
Address: 455 Sanduri Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 12pm-4pm; closed New Year's, Thanksgiving, Christmas
DoRinse cans to remove any leftover food
Completely remove the lid and insert into the can
Don'tNo food residue or liquids in cans
Don't leave lids loose or separate
See details ›

Last updated on June 21, 2026 by Green Star GM

Moore Recycling & Resale logo
Moore Recycling & Resale
Recycle
ResidentialBusiness
Address: 1550 Spur Ct., North Pole, AK 99705 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-5pm
DoRinse containers; remove food residue; remove labels when required
Don'tNo food residue
See details ›

Last updated on June 5, 2026 by Green Star GM

About Steel / tin food cans

What it is

Tin-coated steel cans, such as soup and fruit cans, are made of iron ore and tin, which are limited resources. Aluminum and steel maintain their structural integrity during the recycling process and can be recycled infinitely. Recycling steel and tin cans saves between 60 and 74 percent of the energy used to produce them from raw materials.(1, 2, 6)

How it’s recycled

These cans are put into a huge container with holes in the bottom and then dunked in a caustic (acid-like) solution to dissolve the tin from the cans, then the steel cans are washed and sold as high-grade steel, and the dissolved tin is made into bars that are sold to companies that need tin to make more cans or other products.(1)

How to prepare it

Empty and rinse cans clean of food debris before recycling; paper labels do not need to be removed as they are separated during the recycling process.(4, 5)

Common mistakes

A common mistake is not rinsing cans before recycling, which can contaminate other recyclable materials like paper in the recycling stream. Some recyclers require labels to be removed before dropping off steel cans.(4, 5)

Environmental impact

Recycling steel and tin cans saves between 60 and 74 percent of the energy used to produce them from raw materials. EPA estimates the recycling of steel packaging in 2018 as 1.6 million tons, or 73.8 percent of generation.(2, 3, 6)

Did you know?

Tin cans contain 99 percent steel, despite being called tin cans.(1, 6)

Sources & additional reading

  1. Materials Recovery Center | Recycle City | U.S. EPA www3.epa.gov
  2. Environmental Factoids | WasteWise | US EPA archive.epa.gov
  3. Containers and Packaging: Product-Specific Data | US EPA epa.gov
  4. Frequent Questions on Recycling | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle | US EPA 19january2021snapshot.epa.gov
  5. Frequent Questions on Recycling | US EPA epa.gov
  6. Sustainability Advantages of Cans - Can Manufacturers Institute - Can Central cancentral.com
No FAQs for this material yetAsk a question

No questions have been answered yet. Be the first to ask below.

Ask a Question


See all locations52
Address: 2128 Van Horn Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat 9am-3pm

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 975 Van Horn Road, Suite 6 Suite 6, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Get directions ›
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Last updated on June 20, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 3598 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00 AM-12:00 AM, Sun 10:00 AM-11:00 PM

Last updated on June 21, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 2925 Newby Rd, North Pole, AK 99705 Get directions ›

The center processes approximately 40,000 pairs of eyeglasses per year and sends out approximately 30,000 to eye care missions. The Lions ship glasses recycled at their Aurora Borealis Lions Eyeglass Recycling Facility…

Last updated on June 25, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 3027 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Sat 8:00 AM-7:00 PM, Sun 10:00 AM-5:00 PM

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: Fairbanks, AK Get directions ›

Contact business for details about collection and dropoff options.

Last updated on May 31, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 401 E Van Horn Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

To secure a precise quote for your exact material (whether it is structural steel, pipe, sheet metal, or non-ferrous scrap), it is best to contact them directly.

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Chena Tool Library This location loves volunteers!

Nonprofit
See location details ›
Address: 1917 Lillian Street, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Get directions ›
Hours: Wednesday 3pm-8pm, Saturday 9am-5pm

A tool library is just what it sounds like: a place for community members to share resources, learn from each other, and check out tools for their own projects. The sharing economy…

Last updated on July 2, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 32 College Rd., Fairbanks, AK Get directions ›
Hours: Dropbox is available 24/7

Last updated on June 3, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 2226 Old Steese Hwy N Y, Fairbanks, AK 99712 Get directions ›
Hours: Dropbox is available 24/7

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 805 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK Get directions ›
Hours: Dropbox is available 24/7

Last updated on June 3, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 301 N Santa Claus Ln, North Pole, AK Get directions ›
Hours: Dropbox is available 24/7

Drop box is located near the Northwest corner of the parking lot just West of the welcome center.

Last updated on June 5, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 1910 Tanana Lp E, Fairbanks, AK 99775 Get directions ›
Hours: Dropbox is available 24/7

Last updated on June 5, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 1650 Cowles St, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat-Sun 10am-6pm

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 725 26th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701-2377 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm, Sat 10:00am-2:00pm

Last updated on June 20, 2026 by Green Star GM

Fairbanks Rescue Mission This location loves volunteers!

Nonprofit
See location details ›
Address: 723 27th Ave, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: 9am-5pm M-F

The Fairbanks Rescue Mission serves over 100 people a day and are in constant need of the following items: Men’s/ Women’s t-shirts & underwear (New) sm, med , l, xl Men’s Jeans…

Last updated on June 22, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 505 Old Steese Hwy, Ste 126, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Sun 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

FNSB Central Recycling Facility (CRF) This location loves volunteers!

Recycling FacilityFNSB residents and businesses only
See location details ›
Address: 1855 Marika Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Get directions ›
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-5:30pm, Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm, Closed Sunday-Monday

The FNSB Central Recycling Facility (CRF) is an FNSB Solid Waste provided service for FNSB residents and businesses / organizations only. The CRF is funded via the FNSB Enterprise Fund (landfill tipping…

Last updated on July 3, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 455 Sanduri Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 12pm-4pm; closed New Year's, Thanksgiving, Christmas

The FNSB Sanitary Landfill also serves as the transfer sites for FNSB residents living inside the City of Fairbanks.

Last updated on June 21, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 889 Holmes Road, Fairbanks, AK 99707 Get directions ›

See FNSB documents for accepted items and fees

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 5749 Old Chatanika Road, Fairbanks, AK 99707 Get directions ›

See FNSB documents for accepted items and fees

Last updated on June 13, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 2395 Old Chena Ridge Road, Fairbanks, AK 99707 Get directions ›

See FNSB documents for accepted items and fees

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 2535 Little Shot Road, Fairbanks, AK 99707 Get directions ›

See FNSB documents for accepted items and fees

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 301 Old Steese Highway N, Fairbanks, AK 99707 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Sun 6am-10pm

See FNSB documents for accepted items and fees

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 2180 Farmers Loop Road, Fairbanks, AK 99707 Get directions ›

See FNSB documents for accepted items and fees

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 284 Goldstream Road, Fairbanks, AK 99707 Get directions ›

See FNSB documents for accepted items and fees

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 3485 Old Richardson Highway, North Pole, AK 99705 Get directions ›

See FNSB documents for accepted items and fees

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 2740 Old Richardson Highway, Fairbanks, AK 99707 Get directions ›

See FNSB documents for accepted items and fees

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 901 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›

The mission of BRIDGE is to assist young adults with developmental disabilities in gaining skills, knowledge and appropriate behaviors to become successful individuals, citizens and workers in the community.

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 930 Old Steese Hwy, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Sun 6:00 am - 11:00 pm

Last updated on June 5, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 3755 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Sun 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Green Star of Interior Alaska This location loves volunteers!

NonprofitInterior Alaska
See location details ›
Address: 2134 Texaco Ave Suite A, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Office: Mon-Thu 9am-2pm; Electronics Sales: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 1pm-5pm

Home of the Green Star electronics recycling warehouse and our Reuse IT discounted refurbished electronics store, Repair IT desktop and laptop repair, Rebuild IT computer building classes and Reboot IT technology grants.

Last updated on June 21, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 1301 Old Steese Hwy, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm; Sun: 7:00am - 8:00pm

Take compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) to staff at self-checkout lane if service desk attendants do not know where they belong.

Last updated on June 9, 2026 by Green Star GM

Literacy Council - Forget-me-not Books This location loves volunteers!

Nonprofit
See location details ›
Address: 2216 S. Cushman Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am-5:30pm

Last updated on July 2, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 1550 Spur Ct., North Pole, AK 99705 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-5pm

Formerly Chena Power / K & K Recycling

Last updated on June 5, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 30 College Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Open 5AM - Midnight 7 days per week.

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 3755 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Get directions ›
Hours: Open 5AM - Midnight 7 days per week.

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 301 N Santa Claus Ln, North Pole, AK 99705 Get directions ›
Hours: Open 5AM - Midnight 7 days per week.

Last updated on June 15, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 138 10th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: 24/7

Last updated on June 22, 2026 by Green Star GM

The Folk School This location loves volunteers!

Nonprofit
See location details ›
Address: Pioneer Park, Cabin 66, 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: By appointment or class schedule

Last updated on July 1, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 1651 College Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Get directions ›
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00am-7:00pm, Sat-Sun 10:00am-6:00pm

Last updated on June 20, 2026 by Green Star GM

Address: 2222 S Cushman St, Fairbanks, AK 99701 Get directions ›
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 5:30pm

Acceptable items: Clean Clothing Linens and towels Clothing accessories: belts, ties, scarves, hats Small appliances Clean shoes, boots, sandals, etc. Vehicles with titles Toys, games, puzzles Eye glasses Books, DVD'S, VHS's, Cassette…

Last updated on June 20, 2026 by Green Star GM


See all FAQs0
General FAQs0

No FAQs available yet.

Material FAQs0
Location FAQs0

Get FNSB Recycling Guide updates

At most one email a week — only when the guide changes, and only the topics you choose.