We asked our Facebook fans how they would give a tin can a second life before recycling it. Check out our favorite re-uses below.
Capture grease while cooking
Cooking oil or bacon grease can clog up pipes in your home. Instead of having it go to waste, keep that grease for the next time you are cooking a southern meal or simply collect the cooking grease, store it in the back of the fridge and properly discard the can when it’s full.
Organize paintbrushes and knick knacks for arts and crafts
Wrap it, decorate it, put some lace on it or cover the tin with scrapbook paper and use it to organize your arts and crafts area. Be sure to sand down the sides to remove those sharp edges first. Above is our favorite from Ten23Designs.
Make a game of telephone
Create the classic game of telephone for your kids. Simply grab another can, drill holes in both, add some twine and entertain your kids for hours!
Use it as a citronella candle
Put a wick and a citronella scented wax inside the tin can and use it outdoors to keep bugs away. With the tin can, you don’t have to worry about broken glass.
Plant flowers or seedlings
Poke holes in the bottom, remove the lid and plant some sedum in it. Let it rust or paint it first if you want it to pop. For seedlings, start growing them in the can and then transfer to your garden.
Make an outdoor luminary
Collect six or eight of these cans, rinse and remove the lids. Using a hammer and a nail, you can then make holes in any pattern, like a star burst! Put a candle in each and line them along the sidewalk as luminaries. If you want to get fancy, paint them. These can be reused year after year!
Create your own wind chimes
Grab a couple of different sized cans and some string. Turn the cans upside down, run some string through them and make wind chimes!
Steam bake Boston brown bread
Follow in the steps of our Irish ancestors or your New England neighbors and steam bake this dark, slightly sweet brown bread in your tin can. Check out a recipe here.
Play a game of kick the can
This summer test your kids’ stealth and skill! Get them away from the TV and outdoors for a game of kick the can.
Train your dog
The old tin can is a great noise maker to train dogs. Fill it with rocks and when you want your dog to step away from something, a little (loud) shake will do the trick!
Build your own cookie cutter
If both ends are open, the tin can is great to cut out biscuits or cookies in a perfect circular shape.
Make a flower vase
Use a tin can as a vase on your outdoor table this summer. The silver against white or pink blooms is lovely, casual and perfect for outdoor summer soirees.
Hold your cutlery
Dress it up with a scrap strip of colorful paper, some raffia and a dimensional sticker. Once decorated, put summer silverware in the can and put it out for your party or leave it on your counter to add an accent.
Become a fan of Recyclebank on Facebook and check out the rest of the reuse suggestions here! How would you reuse a tin can?
