Common examples
Food cans, steel closures, some aerosol containers and other ferrous-metal packaging can carry FE 40.
How to distinguish it
Steel is magnetic, but coatings, mixed components and contents still matter.
Safe disposal
Empty packaging and follow local rules. Pressurised aerosols, paint tins or chemical containers can require a special route.
Common questions
Questions people ask
Is FE 40 tin?
The code generally refers to steel or tinplate packaging in the ferrous-metal family.
Can FE 40 go with aluminium cans?
Many systems collect metals together, but not all. Check local rules.
Does FE 40 apply to scrap metal objects?
The packaging code does not automatically define the route for non-packaging scrap.
Reference sources
EU Decision 97/129/EC — Packaging material identification systemOpen source ↗Regulation (EU) 2025/40 — Packaging and packaging wasteOpen source ↗
Checked 2026-08-16