Storing aluminum cans for recycling/sale

MossRoad · Feb 7, 2017

I tried a harbor freight can crusher, but its too slow. I just throw the can on the garage floor and stomp on it with a forward motion. Its flat! :laughing:

I take in about 5-6 bags at a time. I don't make a special trip ever. I only take them when I'm going to be going past the recycler. Usually get 15-20 bucks each time I go. Maybe once a year at most.

forgeblast · Feb 7, 2017

"Sounds fun, but won't they be worth less as ingots?

I am not sure. I am saving them to make something what I don't know yet, that kind of drives the wife crazy.

fidowanttobe · Feb 7, 2017

MossRoad said:
I tried a harbor freight can crusher, but its too slow. I just throw the can on the garage floor and stomp on it with a forward motion. Its flat! :laughing:

I take in about 5-6 bags at a time. I don't make a special trip ever. I only take them when I'm going to be going past the recycler. Usually get 15-20 bucks each time I go. Maybe once a year at most.

X2. Lots less effort. Loader bucket works good too but gotta be out of a bag otherwise the cans pinch the bags.

Mike68 · Feb 7, 2017

You could always donate the cans to the local church or boy scout troop. Have them come pick them up, give you a receipt, and deduct the value from your taxes as a charitable donation.

bigtiller · Feb 7, 2017

My parents gave theirs to the local VFW.

MossRoad · Feb 7, 2017

Mike68 said:
You could always donate the cans to the local church or boy scout troop. Have them come pick them up, give you a receipt, and deduct the value from your taxes as a charitable donation.

You can't deduct them if you don't beat the standard deduction.

zzvyb6 · Feb 7, 2017

1) Make an attachment to your log splitter and smash them flat, bar code readable.
2) Melt them down into aluminum ingots and cast them into casino tokens. Take a few winning rounds out of there without being noticed.
3) Drive the them to a recycle depost friendly state and get 10 cents for each one. Don't get caught, though.
4) Sell them to a metal fab artist and have them make cool stuff with, like toy airplanes, monsters, motorcycle fenders and plant vases.
5) Turn them into new style 'industrial decorations'. Light fixtures or rolling bars or coffee tables. (Flea Market Flip kinda stuff).
6) Sell them as chicken waterers or bird houses / feeders and sell them at weekend flea markets.
7) Christmas tree ornaments ! (I'm sorry, Holiday Arbor attachments).
8) Cut them in half and make air spinners out of them (as seen in the movie, was it Tornado or something like that ?)
9) Fill them with gun powder and design a launcher for the back of a pickup. Anybody tailgates you, well you know what's best for you.
and the number 10 best use for empty aluminum cans: save your receipt and return them as defective 'cause the contents leaked out.

Remember, you really only rent beer...