Metal Codes (ALU 41 / FE 40)
Recycling binAluminium (41) and steel (40): both widely recycled.
Which bin?
Rinse and put in your recycling bin. Both aluminium and steel are widely recycled.
What does it mean?
ALU 41 identifies aluminium packaging (drink cans, foil trays, kitchen foil). FE 40 identifies steel packaging (food cans, aerosols, biscuit tins). Both are widely recycled across the UK. These codes appear alongside the Möbius Loop triangle on packaging. Quick test for unlabelled metal: if a fridge magnet sticks, it's steel; if it doesn't, it's aluminium. Either way, rinse and recycle.
What councils’ own lists say
Counted from the lists and containers of the 182 councils we have checked. The councils on the smaller side are named, each linked to its page. See every material compared.
Food and drink cans: all 171 councils whose lists say either way take them.
Foil: 143 of the 150 councils whose lists say either way take it.
Do not take it: East Hampshire, Fareham, Kirklees, Liverpool, Northumberland, Portsmouth and Test Valley.
Aerosols: 158 of the 159 councils whose lists say either way take them.
Do not take them: Lambeth.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Metal Codes (ALU 41 / FE 40) symbol mean?
Aluminium (41) and steel (40): both widely recycled.
Which bin do items with this symbol go in?
Rinse and put in your recycling bin. Both aluminium and steel are widely recycled.