Cans

All metal food and beverage cans such as pop, beer, soup, vegetable, and tuna can be recycled in all community recycling programs. Small metal tins for items such as tea, coffee, cookies, and biscuits are also included. Cans should be empty, clean, and dry before being recycled.

Cans are made from either steel or aluminum. Aluminum cans you put in your curbside recycling are processed and turned back into new cans and foil that you’ll see on store shelves. Steel cans are recycled into new cans, car parts, and even bridges.

Aluminum beverage cans may be turned in for cash at a local scrap yard. Some area fire stations collect cans to benefit the Aluminum Cans for Burned Children of Northeast Ohio program; check with your community for details. You can also use this website's location services or the ‘Select a City’ drop-down in the dark green bar at the top of every page.

Do not include scrap metal in your curbside recycling including extra large cookie and popcorn tins, car parts, appliances, wire and cord, or other metal objects. These items are dangerous for the workers and the sorting machinery at the materials recovery facility (MRF or recycling plant). Take items to a local scrap yard or a community scrap metal drop-off for residents.

Cat Food Cans

In general, lined pet food cans should not be placed in curbside recycling. Pet food cans may not be sorted properly at a materials recovery facility (MRF). Additionally, loose lids from cat food cans are too small to make it through the sorting equipment. To ensure the items are recycled, take clean cat food cans to a scrap metal yard. You may receive a small rebate. A list of options is below.
 
Businesses can recycle metal food and beverage cans through a local company. For business locations, see the list of options below.

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Looking to recycle, donate, or dispose of other items? Use the dark blue 'What Do I Do With?' search bar at the top of every page of this website. Allow location services or use the city drop-down to find opportunities in your local area.