Can Crushers

How Can Crushers Are Used

Can crushers compact containers by flattening them, allowing more material to be stored before removal. This helps reduce how often bins or skips need emptying.

They’re commonly used in manufacturing, engineering, automotive, food production, hospitality and industrial environments where cans and tins are generated regularly but volumes don’t justify larger recycling equipment such as balers.

Common Containers Suitable for Can Crushers

Can crushers in this category are typically used for:

• Aluminium drinks cans
• Aluminium food and catering cans
• Steel food tins (beans, soup, vegetables, fruit)
• Catering tins from food service operations
• Paint tins (small to large, non-pressurised)
• Oil cans and lubricant tins (contents drained – not filters)
• Maintenance and workshop tins
• Light-gauge industrial tins where contents have been emptied

All containers must be empty and non-pressurised before crushing.

Can Crushers vs Small Balers

In some cases, a standalone can crusher isn’t the only option.

Where a site generates cardboard or plastic, a small vertical baler can sometimes provide a more flexible setup. Certain balers can be supplied with a can crushing table or insert, allowing cans to be flattened before baling other recyclable materials.

This approach is often used where:

• Cardboard and plastic are generated on site and taking up space in bins or skips

• Can volumes are steady but relatively low

• Floor space is limited

• The site wants to minimise the number of machines

Machines such as the LFA 51 are commonly used in this way.

Important: Aerosol Cans

Standard can crushers must not be used for aerosols.

If your site handles pressurised aerosol cans, even occasionally, a dedicated aerosol can crusher is required to safely puncture, depressurise and crush containers before disposal.

Our aerosol can crusher range is designed to handle both aerosols and standard cans and should always be used where pressurised containers are involved.

Choosing the Right Can Crusher

The right can crusher depends on:

• The type of containers being crushed

• Whether aerosols are present

• The largest container size generated

Handling Larger Containers or Drums?

Can crushers are designed specifically for aluminium cans and light-gauge tins.

If your site is generating larger containers such as steel drums, a drum crusher is usually more suitable. Drum crushers are built with significantly higher crush forces and are designed for much larger containers.

You can view our drum crusher range separately for those applications.

Can Crushers Supplied Across the UK

We supply can crushers to sites across the UK and arrange delivery to suit access and site layout.

Can crushers are often installed alongside other equipment such as balers or waste compactors, particularly where cans form part of a wider general or recycling waste stream.

If you’re dealing with cans or tins on site and want to check whether a standalone can crusher, an aerosol crusher or a baler-based solution would be the best fit, we can review how containers are generated and stored and advise accordingly.