Steel maker Corus is trying to encourage more recycling of used steel in an effort to reduce the thousands of tonnes of the metal that still end up in UK landfills every year.

The company‘‘s recycling arm, Corus Steel Packaging Recycling, has announced a campaign aimed at businesses and consumers to try to encourage more recycling of steel products such as food tins.

Although around 56 percent of all steel packaging is recycled annually, a further 296,542 tonnes is being dumped in landfill, according to Corus. Recycling one tonne of steel cans rather than extracting the raw material saves 1.5 tonnes of iron ore, half a tonne of coal and 40 percent of the water used in processing, according to the company.

Corus is promoting the Steel Can Recycling Information Bureau (SCRIB) as a resource for anyone looking to find out more information about steel recycling. ‘‘Obviously we would like steel to become the first choice for packaging and it has become more sustainable over the years,‘‘...