How to Recycle Tin Cans

There's never going to be a shortage of tin cans in the average American kitchen. Finding uses for them or at least for some of them is economical and ecologically sound. Why fill up the landfills when you can reuse them? Here are a handful of countless things to do with tin cans to get you started.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Tin cans
• Tin snips
• Awl or something else that can punch holes
• String
• String of lights
• Can opener
• Polyurethane spray
• Protective gloves
• Rustoleum spray paint

1. Use tin cans to keep tables or chairs locked together. Place both legs into tin cans where the legs meet in the middle. This secures the legs. Make sure to choose a can size that both legs sit flat and snugly inside of.
2. Nail lids to the floors to cover up holes in tree houses and camps. Spray lids with a rust preventing paint and then with polyurethane spray to
   protect them. Punch one house number per lid with an awl and hang lids on a rustic fencepost for cheap and unique house numbers.
3. Punch a decorative design into the sides of a can and them punch a hold in the center of the lid. Widen it as needed with tn snips and put it over the fitting of a bulb on a string of lights. Make it too small for the bulb to fit through. Attach the bulbs through the can lids and hang up. For outdoors, spray with polyurethane or rust retardant paint.
4. Bake brown breads or bread puddings. Use cans with pliers over a campfire for throw away pans. Take them on picnics or beach days for eat and toss bowls.
5. Punch holes in a can and sit candles inside for use outdoors. Use tuna cans to keep fried eggs round or to poach eggs by setting them in a skillet of simmering water.
6. With a little imagination, you may soon be scouring your own trash for treasures.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that can lids can be very sharp so wear gloves when punching holds in them.