Metal
Cans
aluminum cans, tin cans, drink cans, food cans, beverage cans
Can you recycle?
Widely
Yes — drink and food cans are widely recycled. Empty and rinse them, then put them loose in your curbside recycling.
How to prepare
1. Empty the can and give it a quick rinse. 2. Leave it loose — don't bag it. 3. Put it straight in your curbside recycling. 4. In a deposit-return area, take drink cans to a redemption point or reverse vending machine for your refund.
Common mistakes
Leaving food or drink residue inside. Bagging cans in plastic instead of leaving them loose. Forgetting that steel food cans recycle just as easily as aluminum drink cans.
What happens after you recycle it?
Recycled cans are melted and reformed into new cans, car parts, and building materials — an aluminum can is often back on the shelf within 60 days.
Drop-off guidance
Most curbside programs accept both aluminum and steel cans, so a drop-off usually isn't needed. Scrap metal yards also take them, sometimes paying by weight. In deposit areas, redemption points pay back your deposit.
FAQs
Can I recycle cans?
Yes. Both drink and food cans are widely recycled — empty, rinse, and put them in your curbside recycling.
Where can I recycle cans near me?
Use the lookup above. Almost all home collections take cans, and scrap metal yards accept them too.
Is it free to recycle cans?
Yes. Curbside recycling is free to use.
Can I get paid to recycle cans?
Often, yes. In deposit areas, return drink cans for a refund, and scrap yards may pay by weight for aluminum.
