How to Recycle Aluminum Cans at Home

Instructions

• 1

  The first important thing is to properly clean each can either after using it or once you collect it. Most soft drinks come in aluminum cans and they can have a lot of sugar sitting at the bottom. This sugar can easily attract a whole host of nasty insects to wherever you store your aluminum cans.
  
  Make sure you get the can clean before storing it. You can also use the dish towel to dry off the cans. If you have any cans that have been sitting around for a long time, you should use hot water to help remove any sugar residue from the inside.
• 2

  Find a nice flat area on the concrete and smash your aluminum cans. This will minimize the amount of space that you will need to store the cans. Be careful when crushing the cans as it is important to use the heel of your shoe to smash them properly. You can also use a hammer or something large and heavy to help you easily crush all of the cans quickly. If you find it difficult smashing the cans then you can always buy an inexpensive can crusher that mounts to wall and allows you to place a can inside to crush with a handle.
• 3

  Take all of your crushed cans and carefully stack them inside big plastic garbage bags or you can even place them inside a garbage can. Try to squeeze as many crushed cans as possible inside the bags. Once you get a decent amount of cans, it is a good idea to take a trip to the nearest recycling business. Here, they will give you money for your aluminum cans based on weight. You should definitely call around and find a recycling outfit that offers the most for your aluminum cans.