Best Tin & Can Crusher
We review the best Tin and Can Crushers To Recycle Beer and Pop Tins, as well as food and waste tins.
By Kitchen Gadget Box
Many people are growing more aware of the planet’s increasing need for recycling, and it helps if you have the right equipment to make recycling easier.
Tins and cans are some of the most widespread recyclable objects, but they often take too much space in the trash can. That’s why I’m here to give you some suggestions for the best tin & can crushers, Let’s see!
The Best Tin and Can Crushers: Reviews
You’ll find a lot of tin and can crushers out there, featuring various shapes, sizes, and usage methods. Here are five of the best models the market has to offer:
The Crusher Pacific Precision Aluminum Can Compactor
This can crusher features a 16-inch-long build that can be mounted on the wall, which is something that makes the crushing process a lot easier. With the Crusher can compactor, you can compress 12- and 16-ounce cans down to 1-inch scrap pieces, allowing you to save so much space for recycling.
Fully made of steel, this crusher ensures sturdiness and durability. Plus, its handle is round and padded with rubber for you to comfortably grip.
Pros
- Can be easily mounted on the wall
- Sturdy
- Cushioned handle
Cons
- The white color might fade or catch dirt with time
McKay Metal Can Crusher
Not only can this crusher compress 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans, but it can also crush plastic bottles, thanks to the hole on its top plate. Just like typical crushers, this model can be mounted on any sturdy surface, such as walls, tables, doors, etc.
This all-steel crusher features a padded handle, so it’s both sturdy and easy to use without hurting your hand. However, despite this all-steel build, the handle assembly is pretty flimsy, which is why it might detach upon repeated use.
Another important thing about this crusher is that it features a bottle opener, making it a great gadget for busy house parties. Cheers!
Pros
- Crushes plastic bottles
- Sturdy with a cushioned handle
- Features a bottle opener
Cons
- Flimsy handle assembly
KitchenCraft Floor-Standing Foot-Operated Can Crusher
The best thing about this crusher is that you can push the handle by your foot instead of your hand. This is great for people who, like myself, don’t have the strongest hand muscles — there’s no shame in admitting it!
This crusher features a magnet that distinguishes between steel and aluminum cans. This feature would be beneficial if you need to separate both materials so they don’t mix together in your recycling process.
Pros
- Foot-operated
- Portable
- Distinguishes between aluminum and steel
Cons
- Not the cheapest option
Commercial Zone CanPactor – Recycling Container With Can Crusher
This product can both crush and store up to 400 aluminum cans, helping you store the cans to recycle them later in bulk. However, I think it’d be more useful for restaurants than small households that wouldn’t need such a big storage place.
The high-quality plastic build ensures that this crusher won’t rust over time. Nevertheless, plastic isn’t the most reliable material to crush aluminum.
If you’re really concerned about the waste crisis, you’ll be glad to know that Commercial Zone used recycled materials to make up about 25% of this crusher. Better yet, you can fully recycle the product if it ever breaks down.
Pros
- Crusher and storage unit
- Portable
- Environmentally friendly
Cons
- Flimsy plastic build
- Pricey
Dial Industries M92 Can Crusher – Up to 10 Cans!
What makes this crusher stand out is that it can crush up to 10 cans at once in 10 seconds. This feature is beneficial for restaurants and other commercial activities with a high tin and can consumption rate.
Another cool thing about this compactor is that it automatically ejects the can after crushing it. So, the best way to use it is to mount it to a wall and put a trash can beneath it.
On the downside, the handle isn’t padded by anything, which is why it could be uncomfortable to grip, especially when you crush ten cans at once.
Pros
- Crushes 10 cans at a time
- Automatic ejection
- Wall-mountable
Cons
- Uncomfortable handle
What to Look for in a Tin and Can Crusher?
After going through these products, you might still be confused about choosing the best crusher. So, here are some things to consider:
The Material
Cans and tins are made of solid materials, and your crusher should be of an equally solid material if you want it to last a long time.
So, the best material for a crusher is steel or aluminum. I only recommend plastic if you don’t plan on using it often. You should always check the quality of the plastic.
Ease of Use
The most important aspect about a crusher is its ease-of-use because you’re the one who’ll do half of the work. If your leg muscles are stronger than your hand muscles, a foot-operated crusher would be better for you.
If you don’t mind pulling with your hand, make sure the handle is padded with comfortable material, especially if you’ll use the crusher a lot.
How Often You’ll Use It
Before buying a crusher, think about what you need it for. If you live in a small household, you probably don’t need a crusher that holds up many cans.
However, if you’re buying a crusher for commercial activities, such as restaurants, you’ll need a big crusher to save time and effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make Homemade Tin and Can Crushers?
You can indeed make your very own can crusher. However, most homemade crushers are wooden, which means they might not be as sturdy as steel products.
Even if you attempt to make a steel crusher, it’d be too complicated, especially if you’re not the best craftsman.
How Can I Crush Tins and Cans Without a Crusher?
There are three ways to do it:
- You can crush its sides with your hands.
- You can put it upright on the ground and step on it.
- You can twist the can and squeeze the ends towards each other.
However, I don’t think that any of these methods would be effective enough.
Do You Have to Rinse Soda Cans Before Recycling?
If you can see visible residue, you’d better wash it before recycling. In fact, I recommend washing them anyway. They don’t have to be shiny; just use some water to flush the residue.
Why? Well, unclean cans, or any other dirty items, add to the contamination of the whole recyclable load. If the contamination level soars up, the recycling facility might reject the entire load — all the effort put into gathering the recyclable materials would go in vain!
Conclusion
I recommend considering the material of the crusher, its usage method, and your purpose for buying it before settling on any product. For me, I’d go for the KitchenCraft Can Crusher; it’s foot-operated, portable, and it can also crush different materials.