How to Recycle Cans

Putting Cans out for Curbside Pickup

Rinse out your cans before putting them aside for recycling. For aluminum beverage cans, simply fill up them with water and dump it back out. If there is a lot of sticky residue on the can, you may need to rinse it several times. For steel food cans, rinse them out with hot water until any food residue is gone. Rinsing the cans eliminates odors and lessens the chance that insects and pests will be drawn to your recycling. Back in the day, you had to crush your cans before recycling them. This isn't a requirement anymore, but it could help save space if you're recycling a lot of cans on a weekly basis.

Use a dedicated container for your to-be-recycled cans. Put both your aluminum beverage cans and your steel food cans into a designated container. If your community has a specified recycling bin that each household needs to use, make sure to put your cans into that. If not, invest in a large plastic tote to keep your cans in during the days leading up to trash/recycling day. Some communities provide very large trash bins for recycling purposes, and it can be a pain to take a can out to the bin every time you finish using one. Consider keeping a large plastic or paper bag in your kitchen where you can deposit aluminum cans. Once it is full, you can carry the entire bag out to the recycling bin. If your community-designated recycling bin gets damaged or goes missing, request a new one through your city's waste management and recycling division.

Check online to find out which day of the week is recycling day. Go online and search for your town's name along with “recycling days” to find the information you need. Most communities pick up trash and recycling on the same day, but some waste management companies run their trash and recycling services on separate days. If you don't have internet access, try calling your local community center or waste management location.

Bring your recycling bin to the curb on pickup day. Set a reminder on your phone so you don't forget to put out your recycling every week. Either put it out the night before or the morning of, to ensure it's out there in time for pickup. Don't forget to bring your recycling bin back in once it has been picked up! Remember to take into account weeks that contain a holiday—your recycling will most likely be picked up a day later than normal.

Taking Cans to a Recycling Center

Search online for your local recycling facility. Type in: “Recycling Locator” in your search bar to find out where and when you can drop off your aluminum and steel cans. Some facilities may also have guidelines for how your cans need to be separated, if they do at all. Some communities even have a designated parking lot with a trash receptacle specifically for recycling that you can dump your cans into. This receptacle is picked up weekly by waste management.

Rinse out your cans before putting them aside for recycling. Fill the cans with water and then dump them out, giving them a shake to get the excess water out from around the rim. If you are rinsing out a steel food can, use hot water and rinse it continuously until all food remnants are gone. Rinsing the cans before recycling them makes them less likely to develop bad odors, makes them less sticky, and reduces the chance that they'll attract bugs or animals.

Keep your cans separate from your other recyclables. Use a plastic tote, large plastic bag, or brown paper sack to store your cans after they've been rinsed out. This way you won't have to sort through your recycling when it's time to take a trip to the recycling facility. The easier you make it for yourself to recycle, the more likely you will be to follow through with it.

Recycle your cans for a profit if your community allows it. If you live in the U.S. in a “bottle bills” state, you can take your aluminum cans and steel food tins to a recycling facility and turn them in for a cash refund. You generally will get 5 to 10 cents per item you turn in. Check out your state's requirements for how to prepare your cans for recycling. The “bottle bills” states are: California Connecticut Hawaii Iowa Maine Massachusetts Michigan New York Oregon Vermont Depending on what country you live in, there may be others rules or programs that apply. Check online to see if you can make a profit by recycling!

Take your cans to the recycling facility once your container is full. Make dropping off your cans a part of your routine. Depending on how quickly you fill up your recycling container, stop at the recycling facility once a week or once every other week to make a deposit. When you get to the facility, you will either just drop off your container at a designated area, or, if you are in a “bottle bills” state, you will need to turn in your cans to an individual and receive your payment. You could drop off your recycling every Wednesday after work, or maybe you can take it every week before you go grocery shopping. Making recycling a regular part of your schedule will help you to be more consistent with it.

Donating Cans to a School or Charity

Rinse out your cans before putting them aside for recycling. Fill up your cans with water and shake them to dislodge any food remnants or stickiness. Dump out all of the water before placing your cans into your designated recycling bin. Rinsing the cans keeps them free of odors and stickiness, which can attract unwanted pests.

Keep your cans in a designated bin or bag. Keep them separate from other recyclables so it's easier to donate them when the time comes. Use a large plastic or paper bag that you keep in or near your kitchen so it's easily accessible when you need it. For easier transportation, consider buying a mid-size plastic tote that is easy to take in and out of your car.

Find out which charities or school fundraisers are accepting cans. Check with your local school and churches to see if they are accepting donations. You can check online or make a few phone calls to local establishments, or you could even contact your local community center to see if they're aware of any ongoing fundraisers. Donating your cans to charity is a double-win: you're recycling and helping the planet and you're helping out a good cause. Ask if they are only accepting aluminum beverage cans or if they are also accepting steel food cans.

Drop off your cans to the charity before their deadline. Take your rinsed out cans to the school or charity, making sure to drop off your cans several days before the end of their fundraiser. If there isn't a deadline, set a reminder in your phone to drop off your cans once a week or once every other week. Dropping off your aluminum cans periodically keeps them from building up at your home and becoming an eyesore.