Home / September

A little reason to celebrate

National Crush a Can Day

Fun · September 27

A day about crushing empty aluminum cans flat, a small satisfying chore that saves bin space and makes recycling a little tidier.

National Crush a Can Day falls on Monday, September 27, 2027. That is 335 days away.

An empty soda can, set on the floor and met with a firm heel, folds into a flat metal disc with a crunch that is hard not to like. That is the whole subject here: crushing cans, usually on the way to the recycling bin.

Most drink cans are made of aluminum, a light metal that bends easily once the can is empty and the pressure inside is gone. A sealed can is surprisingly strong. An open, empty one gives way with very little effort, which is why the classic method is simply to stand it upright and step down on it.

People crush cans for practical reasons. Flat cans take up less room, so a bin holds more before it needs emptying. Some households keep a wall-mounted crusher by the back door, a lever device that folds a can in one pull and drops it into a bucket below. Others prefer the two-handed squeeze, which takes more grip than it looks like it should.

Aluminum can be recycled and made into new cans again, so a crushed can is not the end of the story. Before crushing, it helps to rinse the can so sticky soda does not attract ants. Check local rules too, since a few recycling programs or can deposit systems ask for cans to be left whole so machines can read the label.

The best crunch comes from a can that is completely empty and dry, stepped on squarely in the middle.

Ways to celebrate

• Rinse and crush the empty cans sitting in your recycling bin.
• Check whether your local recycling program prefers crushed or whole cans.
• Try crushing a can flat with one firm, centered step.
• Take a bag of collected cans to a recycling drop-off.

Dates

All national days on September 27

Also on September 27

• National Chocolate Milk Day
• National Corned Beef Hash Day
• National Scarf Day

Categories: Fun days