Metal utensils can go in the recycling. Plastic cutlery is not recyclable and goes in the landfill cart. Are your utensils still in usable condition? Donate them!
Some communities provide special recycling bins where you can dump items such as glass, aluminum, and stainless steel. Separately, of course. You can choose to go that route, separating your stainless steel into other refuse bags before you take out the trash.
If you have old stainless steel cookware that you no longer need, consider passing it on. Family, friends, or local charity shops can benefit from cookware that's still in good condition. Reusing items within your community keeps them out of landfills and reduces the demand for new products.
Silverware is typically made from different types of metals, such as stainless steel or silver. Silverware is not accepted in curbside recycling carts but can be recycled as scrap metal.
Stainless steel is theoretically 100% recyclability and its long term life makes it an ideal environmental performer much better than many other materials. Stainless steel products are designed to have a long life; often spanning over several decades.
If it's non-coated aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel then you can take it to a local metal scrap yard if you have one. If it has a nonstick coating - it's garbage. Throw it in the garbage. Whatever it is though, it cannot just be tossed in the regular recycling with your soda cans.
Stainless steel does contain some iron. However, it also contains other elements that make it more valuable than regular iron or steel, although not as valuable as other scrap metals such as copper. Stainless steel's scrap metal price fluctuates with the market, typically ranging anywhere from $0.40-1.30 per pound.
Don't forget that all metal packaging can be recycled! So as well as food and drinks cans, items like sweet tins, cake tins, foil trays, aluminium wrapping foil and pet food tins can all be put in your blue recycling bin. And it's not just items used in the kitchen that are recyclable!
These include radioactive metals, mercury, contaminated cans, household equipment that contains harmful toxins, and unclean metals. Radioactive metals such as uranium, plutonium, and radon cannot be recycled because the process of recycling these metals can expose workers to radiation.
If you've tried all of the above cleaning methods and your stainless steel cookware is still scratched, stained, dented, or rusted beyond repair. Then you'll want to replace it. This is especially so if your pots and pans have been scratched to where the material beneath is showing.
However, stainless steel is an exception that should not be placed in your curbside bin. Instead, you can drop stainless steel off at a metal recycler. The reason that steel can be easily recycled is that it is magnetic, and at the recycling facility, large magnets are used to sort it from other metals.
What are Stainless Steel Prices Per Pound? At the time of publishing (late January 2022) stainless steel prices per pound sit at $0.64.
This material is corrosion-resistant as it's made from chromium and nickel. Due to this resistance, 304 stainless steel prevents harmful substances from “leaking” into your water - meaning you're free to enjoy every last sip of your beverage of choice without worry.
Stainless steel items that can be recycled include: Kitchen accessories, cutlery, and cookware. Knife blades with sharp edges. Cookers, grills, and sinks.
Kitchen items and cookware
Reuse it: if it's in good condition, take it to a reuse drop off point. Or you can sell, donate, pass it on. All kitchen items and cookware (such as pots and pans, cutlery, utensils, baking trays, mixing bowls etc.) can be taken to your local recycling centre.
Metal utensils can go in the recycling. Plastic cutlery is not recyclable and goes in the landfill cart. Are your utensils still in usable condition? Donate them!
Plastic utensils are not recyclable. If you're considering buying any “disposable” with the intention of recycling it, it's better to choose a reusable or compostable alternative.