Metal matters - that is the message recycling experts want to get across as a new campaign is launched.

Sutton Council launched the MetalMatters campaign to encourage people to recycle things like tins, cans, aerosol bottles, foil, jar lids and other metal items and is sending leaflets around to reinforce the message.

The leaflets tell people their cans could be recycled and back on supermarket shelves in a little as six weeks and that metal recycling saves energy, cuts carbon emissions and saves money for taxpayers by avoiding landfill charges.

Councillor Colin Hall, Deputy Leader of Sutton Council said: "Recycling one tonne of aluminium saves nine tonnes of Co2 emissions - the equivalent of driving nearly 3,000 miles. Every tonne of recycled steel saves 40 per cent of the water required for virgin steel, saves half a tonne of coal, and uses only a quarter of the energy.

"Whilst most residents already recycle their food and drink cans, the Metal Matters campaign highlights the fact that sweet and biscuit tins, empty aerosols, foil trays, kitchen foil, metal bottle tops and jar lids can also be recycled."

The cost of the six-week campaign is being met by Recycle for London, waste disposal firm Viridor and other organisations in the recycling industry.