ASTM D5833-12(2020)

Standard Guide for Source Reduction Reuse, Recycling, or Disposal of Steel Cans

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide will familiarize public officials and business and industry managers with source reduction, reuse, recycling, or disposal of steel cans.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides general information to public officials and business and industry managers regarding the source reduction, reuse, recycling, or disposal of steel cans under 5-gal (wet) or 40-lb (dry) capacity. It presents a comprehensive overview of the steel can life cycle. Five-gallon pails and larger containers, up to 55-gal drums, will be in a separate guide due to their inherently different use and management when empty.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2020
• ICS: 55.120 - Cans. Tins. Tubes
• Technical Committee: D34 - Waste Management
• Drafting Committee: D34.03 - Treatment, Recovery and Reuse

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E701-80(2018) - Standard Test Methods for Municipal Ferrous Scrap
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2018
• Refers: ASTM A623-11 - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2011
• Refers: ASTM A623-10 - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2010
• Refers: ASTM E702-85(2010) - Standard Specification for Municipal Ferrous Scrap
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2010
• Refers: ASTM E701-80(2010) - Standard Test Methods for Municipal Ferrous Scrap
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2010
• Refers: ASTM A623-09 - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2009
• Refers: ASTM A623-08 - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2008
• Refers: ASTM A623-06a - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2006
• Refers: ASTM A623-06 - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2006
• Refers: ASTM A623-05 - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2005
• Refers: ASTM E701-80(2005) - Standard Test Methods for Municipal Ferrous Scrap
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Refers: ASTM E702-85(2005) - Standard Specification for Municipal Ferrous Scrap
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Refers: ASTM A623-03 - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2003
• Refers: ASTM A623-02a - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2002
• Refers: ASTM A623-02 - Standard Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• Effective Date: 10-May-2002

Overview

ASTM D5833-12(2020) - Standard Guide for Source Reduction Reuse, Recycling, or Disposal of Steel Cans provides comprehensive guidance for public officials, business leaders, and industrial managers on environmentally responsible management of steel cans. This guide is specifically designed for steel cans with capacities under 5 gallons (wet) or 40 pounds (dry), covering the entire lifecycle from production to end-of-life processes. By following the practices outlined in this standard, organizations can enhance sustainability and meet regulatory and environmental objectives related to steel can packaging.

Key Topics

• Source Reduction:
  Strategies to reduce raw material usage during steel can production, resulting in thinner walls and decreased use of tin or alternative coatings. Source reduction also addresses efficiencies in can manufacturing to minimize scrap generation.

• Reuse:
  While most steel cans are intended for single use, the standard identifies potential reuse in home and institutional environments for storage or other incidental purposes.

• Recycling:
  Detailed processes for the collection, processing, and recycling of steel cans. The guide covers methods for residential, commercial, and industrial recycling, including:

  • Curbside and drop-off collection programs
  • Multi-commodity buyback centers
  • Resource recovery and mixed waste processing facilities with magnetic separation
  • Dockside and industrial recycling procedures

• Disposal:
  Outlines safe disposal protocols for steel cans when recycling or reuse is not practical, ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

• Manufacturing and Materials:
  Overview of modern steelmaking and can fabrication methods, including the use of recycled scrap steel in basic oxygen furnaces and electric arc furnaces, enhancing the recycled content of new cans.

Applications

Practical applications of ASTM D5833-12(2020) include:

• Municipal Solid Waste Management:
  Enables local governments to improve steel can recycling rates through informed program design and magnetic separation technologies.

• Food and Beverage Industry:
  Supports sustainable packaging and waste management for food service operations, catering, and food manufacturing plants that use significant quantities of steel cans.

• Manufacturing Facilities:
  Provides guidance for factories and industrial operations to efficiently recycle steel can scrap and reduce material costs through internal collection and processing programs.

• Waste Haulers and Recycling Operators:
  Assists organizations in establishing effective steel can handling, baling, and densification processes to meet the specification needs of steel mills and foundries.

• Compliance and Environmental Reporting:
  Helps public and private sector entities align with safety, health, and regulatory requirements when disposing of or recycling steel cans, including containers that held hazardous materials.

Related Standards

The following ASTM standards and specifications are referenced within ASTM D5833-12(2020) or provide related technical support:

• ASTM A623: Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Requirements
• ASTM E701: Test Methods for Municipal Ferrous Scrap
• ASTM E702: Specification for Municipal Ferrous Scrap
• ASTM E1134: Specification for Source-Separated Steel Cans (Withdrawn)
• ASTM D5488: Terminology of Environmental Labeling of Packaging Materials and Packages (Withdrawn)

Additionally, the standard aligns with internationally recognized principles from the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee, supporting global harmonization of recycling and waste management practices.

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Keywords: steel can recycling, steel can disposal, source reduction, reuse of steel cans, municipal solid waste, magnetic separation, ferrous scrap, environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, ASTM standards, waste management.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D5833 − 12 (Reapproved 2020)
Standard Guide for
Source Reduction Reuse, Recycling, or Disposal of Steel
Cans
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5833; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E702 Specification for Municipal Ferrous Scrap
E1134 Specification for Source-Separated Steel Cans (With-
1.1 This guide provides general information to public offi-
drawn 2001)
cials and business and industry managers regarding the source
reduction, reuse, recycling, or disposal of steel cans under
3. Summary of Guide
5-gal (wet) or 40-lb (dry) capacity. It presents a comprehensive
overview of the steel can life cycle. Five-gallon pails and larger 3.1 Steel can container applications are described, including
containers, up to 55-gal drums, will be in a separate guide due food, beverage, and general purpose. The processes for
to their inherently different use and management when empty. steelmaking, steel sheet production, and steel can manufactur-
ing are discussed. The methods of source reduction, reuse,
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
recycling, or disposal of steel cans are explained.
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
4. Significance and Use
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 This guide will familiarize public officials and business
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
and industry managers with source reduction, reuse, recycling,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
or disposal of steel cans.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Typical Steel Can Container Applications
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 5.1 Food Cans—More than 90 % of metal food containers,
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the also known as sanitary cans, are made of steel (1). While they
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- have been commonly called “tin” cans, the tin coating on steel
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
sheet has become extremely thin as technology advanced. It
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. has been supplemented or replaced by other alternative coat-
ings and treatments so that about one third of all steel cans are
2. Referenced Documents
now made with tin-free steel (2). Steel food cans contain many
types of food products, such as meat, fruit, vegetables, soup,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
infant formula, and pet food. (See Fig. 1.)
A623 Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Require-
5.1.1 Single-Serving or Home-Use Container—Steel food
ments
cans vary in size and style, in accordance with product and
D5488 Terminology of Environmental Labeling of Packag-
consumer requirements. Can size may range from a few ounces
ing Materials and Packages (Withdrawn 2002)
to the typical one-pound net weight container used in the home.
E701 Test Methods for Municipal Ferrous Scrap
They are normally opened with an ordinary manual or electric
can opener, but some have aluminum or steel easy-open lids for
greater convenience to the consumer.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
5.1.2 Multi-Serving or Commercial/Institutional
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.03 on Treatment,
Recovery and Reuse.
Container—Steel food cans are widely used in business and
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2020. Published November 2020. Originally
institutional food service facilities and food manufacturing
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D5833 – 12. DOI:
plants. This includes 1-gal (#10) cans and oblong cans, such as
10.1520/D5833-12R20.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or for olive oil.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
3 4
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
www.astm.org. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5833 − 12 (2020)
scrap charge for future production. Prompt scrap is leftover or
unused scrap material from industrial fabricating processes,
such as trimmings from steel can manufacturing. Obsolete
scrap is any product collected for scrap metal at the end of its
useful life, such as major appliances, tools, automobiles,
construction and demolition salvage, and steel cans. Steel scrap
is collected, processed, and shipped to the closest melting
location.
6.2 Basic Oxygen-Furnace Production—About 60 % of the
steel produced in the United States in 1994 was made in the
basic oxygen furnace by the integrated mills (3). This highest-
quality steel is required for cans, appliances, automobiles, and
other flat-rolled steel products. Domestic mills use an average
of 75 % molten iron and 25 % scrap steel in the furnace charge.
Thus, this steel has about 25 % recycled content.
6.2.1 The basic oxygen process is very large in scale,
making 200 to 300 tons of steel per melt (batch) (4). Hot metal
(or molten iron) is first made separately in the blast furnace,
using iron ore, coke, and limestone. Then the basic oxygen
furnace is loaded with a charge of steel scrap and molten iron.
Limestone is also added as flux. An oxygen lance is lowered
into the furnace to blow oxygen onto the surface of the molten
FIG. 1 Steel Container Applications
iron. The blow of oxygen continues until the impurities and a
certain amount of carbon in the molten iron have been reduced
5.2 Beverage Cans—Steel cans are widely used for juices through oxidation and the desired composition of steel has
and other non-carbonated beverage applications. They may been made. These chemical reactions take place very rapidly so
also be used for beer or soft drinks. (See Fig. 1) the process is completed in about 20 min.
5.2.1 Single-Serving Container—Steel beverage cans vary 6.2.2 Due to technological limitations, the maximum
in size and style. The 6-oz juice can, commonly used for school amount of scrap used relative to the hot metal is approximately
lunches, has a foil peel-off closure on the lid, although some
30 % in the basic oxygen furnace. Any higher percentage of
now have an all-steel stay-on tab. scrap would require supplemental energy to the chemical
5.2.2 Multi-Serving or Commercial/Institutional
reaction process (5). In 1994, the North American integrated
Container—Larger beverage containers, from 46 oz (#5) to steel producers averaged more than 25 % total scrap steel use,
1 gal (#10), are used for home, business, institutions, and food
with about 10 to 15 % being obsolete scrap and the balance
manufacturing. from home scrap and prompt scrap.
6.2.3 The modern method of continuous casting transforms
5.3 General Purpose Cans—Steel cans have many non-food
the liquid steel into solidified semifinished steel. This is done
and non-beverage applications, wet or dry, for the household,
by delivering the liquid steel in a ladle to the casting floor,
business, and industry. (See Fig. 1)
where it is poured into a special mold arrangement that allows
5.3.1 Single-Serving or Home-Use Container—Smaller
the steel to flow and form directly into a red-hot continuous
cans up to 1 gal are typical. Numerous styles and sizes of cans
ribbon of solidified steel which is cut automatically into
are required because of the wide array of products and
specified slab lengths.
applications, including liquid products (such as paint), powders
(such as talc), semisolids (such as paste wax), aerosols (such as 6.3 Manufacture of Can Sheet:
hair spray), and dry goods (such as adhesive bandages or roller
6.3.1 Steel slab destined for steel can application is rolled or
bearings). Many have replaceable lids that are pried off to open
flattened into an intermediate gage in the hot strip mill (6). The
the container. Aerosol cans are sealed and release product
hot band is then cleaned before going through a cold reduction
through a spray valve until empty.
mill to strengthen and form it into the desired sheet gage. It
5.3.2 Industrial or Commercial/Institutional Container—
then passes through an annealing furnace, which softens it in
Larger general purpose containers, including 5-gal pails and
preparation for other processing. The sheet steel, in the form of
steel drums of various capacities will be covered in a separate
very large coils (rolls), goes either to a temper mill for final
guide.
finish or to a double cold-reduction mill, where it becomes
even thinner and stronger. Called“ black plate” up to now, the
6. Manufacture of Steel and Can Sheet for Steel Cans
single- or double-reduced product is ready for coating with tin
6.1 Scrap steel is used in making new steel in the basic or chromium.
oxygen furnace, electric arc furnace, and foundry. Scrap steel is 6.3.2 As the steel goes through the coating line, it is washed
categorized as “home,” “prompt,” or “obsolete” scrap. Home and cleaned. It is electroplated in a bath employing soluble tin
scrap is unsalable steel scrap generated from the steelmaking anodes. If coated with tin, the steel sometimes is passed
process. It is “run-around” in the mill to be used as part of the through a high-frequency induction or resistance heater. There,
D5833 − 12 (2020)
the tin melts and flows to form a lustrous coating that is cooled prompt scrap.) Can bodies are made by cutting can sheet into
in water, treated electrochemically, rinsed, then electrostati- the desired size and rolling it into a cylinder. The side seams
cally coated with oil. Alternatively, the steel is electroplated in are joined by electric resistance welding at speeds higher than
a chromium bath, producing a burnished, darker finish, as with 500 can bodies per minute. (Lead-soldered side seam construc-
a tuna can. Finally, the steel, tin-coated or tin-free, as described tion is no longer used in the United States.) The majority of
in Specification A623, is inspected, packaged, and shipped as three-piece cans have tin-coated bodies, but may have either
coils or flat cut sheets to the canmaking facility (7). tin-coated or tin-free steel ends, which are mechanically
crimped to the body during can-making and after filling.
6.4 Electric Arc-Furnace Production—In 1994, the remain-
Three-piece cans provide manufacturing flexibility in height
ing 40 % of domestic steel was produced in the electric arc
and diameter for varied can sizes and smaller production runs.
furnace by the so-called mini-mills (3). This steel is for heavy
Most cans are cylindrical; however, some have oblong or other
shapes, such as I-beam, channel, billet, rod, reinforcing bar,
specialty configurations.
nail, and wire. Some mini-mills are now making flat-rolled
7.3 About one fifth of all steel cans are two-piece cans made
sheet for appliances, but are not capable of steel can and
with either the draw-redraw (DRD) or the drawn and ironed
automotive applications. While the basic oxygen furnace
(D&I) process. The body and bottom are drawn from one piece
combines raw material and steel scrap to produce new steel,
electric arc furnaces are charged with virtually 100 % steel of steel, so that the only seam is ultimately between the single
unit body and the separately made lid. More than 90 % of
scrap. Thus, this steel has almost 100 % recycled content.
Specific grades of steel scrap are selected and charged with two-piece steel DRD cans are made of tin-free steel (2). All
two-piece D&I cans are made from tin-coated steel. Tin-coated
small amounts of raw material into the furnace. Charging
steel may be used for lids for a shiny appearance and for bodies
typically takes place through the furnace roof, which is lifted or
that will be subjected to a more corrosive product environment.
swung aside. During the steelmaking process, three large
In the DRD production process for food cans, a shallow cup is
cylindrical electrodes are lowered through openings in the roof
produced from a flat circular blank that is punched or cut from
to melt the steel scrap. Chemistry of the molten steel is verified
the can sheet. The diameter of the cup is reduced as the can is
so that adjustments may be made with the addition of needed
deepened. In a similar manner, the D&I process is used for
elements. It is then continuously cast into slabs or other long
food and beverage can bodies. The basic difference between a
shapes (4).
DRD and D&I can is that the latter produces a thinner sidewall,
6.5 Foundry Production—While foundries use a variety of
as the metal is stretched through elongation. Lids are formed
methods to melt steel scrap, their furnaces tend to be much
and then later crimped to the body after filling, as with
smaller and more specialized than a steel mill’s furnace.
three-piece cans.
Therefore, foundries may be more selective about the steel
7.4 Beading is sometimes performed to add strength to the
scrap used for recycling and its preparation. As a source of
thinner-walled, modern can body, two-piece or three-piece.
steel scrap, steel cans are made from a high grade of steel with
Beads are grooves formed along the side of the container to
predictable chemical characteristics. The steel can’s very slight
stiffen the can body. Beading also improves label retention.
tin content acts as an alloy in the casting process, thereby
reducin
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