National Crush a Can Day, sometimes called National Crush Day, comes up onSeptember 27 every year. It’s a day dedicated to educating our country and the world about the importance of recycling. This day is just the perfect time to remind people that recycling helps to conserve life and our natural resources by reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and saving money. Let’s join hands and save the world together!
History of NATIONAL CRUSH A CAN DAY
The history of the can dates back all the way to 1795 when Napoleon offered a grand prize of 12,000 francs to anyone who could invent a method to preserve perishable food for army and navy use. Centuries earlier, the ancients preserved their food by traditional methods like salting and drying. In 1809, French confectioner and brewer Nicolas Appert invented a method of preserving food in airtight bottles and glass jars. In 1810, British inventor and merchant Peter Durand patented his own method of using tin-coated iron cans, and by 1813, he was supplying large quantities of canned food to the Royal Navy.
While Appert’s invention laid the groundwork for canning, Durand is credited for creating the modern-day food canning process. In the U.S., Thomas Kensett and Ezra Daggett patented the use of tin plates in 1825 and sold canned meats, fruits, and vegetables. By the 1860s, can-making became mechanized, but it was not until 1938 that the first canned soft drink, Clicquot Club ginger ale appeared in markets. By 1967, Coca-Cola and Pepsi popularized the use of lighter, rust-resistant and recyclable aluminum beverage cans, earlier manufactured by Reynolds Metals Company in 1963 to package a diet cola called ‘Slenderella.’
Although recycling was not initially widespread, the first aluminum can recycling plants were already in operation in Chicago as of 1904. By 1970, the year that coincided with the inaugural Earth Day, recycling steel and aluminum cans became more popular and widely accepted, especially with the country-wide proliferation of buy-back centers exchanging returned cans for money.
Manufacturing an aluminum can from recycled cans consumes 95% less energy and produces 90% fewer emissions compared to producing that same can from raw materials. So remember to keep our planet clean and recycle your cans always!
NATIONAL CRUSH A CAN DAY timeline
The French emperor Napoleon offers a prize of 12,000 francs to anyone who could invent a method of preserving food for his army and navy.
Nicolas Appert invents a method of preserving food by sterilization.
Thomas Kensett, Sr. and Ezra Daggett sell canned oysters, fruits, meats, and vegetables in New York City.
Ernie Fraze, of the Dayton Reliable Tool Company, invents the aluminum easy-open ring pull for beer cans.
NATIONAL CRUSH A CAN DAY FAQs
What Day is Tell Your Crush Day?
Tell Your Crush Day comes up every May 7. It’s a day to confess your feelings to that person you have huge romantic feelings for. Who knows, you just might get lucky.
Is today National Kiss Your Crush Day?
National Kiss Your Crush Day is October 19. September 27 is for crushing cans and saving our dear planet.
Is there a National Daughters Day?
National Daughters Day occurs on September 25. It’s a day for parents to celebrate their daughters and show how much they love and appreciate their special female offspring.
How to Observe NATIONAL CRUSH A CAN DAY
Host a can crushing party
Collect old cans in anticipation. On the day, gather around your house with friends and family and crush. You could even let whoever crushes the highest number of cans take all of them to the recycling center and get paid! Be careful when crushing cans as they may cause injury if handled improperly.
Advocate for recycling
Raise awareness for this special day at your organization by educating your colleagues about the importance of recycling old cans and keeping our planet clean. If you can, collect littered cans to crush.
Visit a buy-back center
If you are unable to crush cans, collect and take them to the nearest recycling center. You’ll not only be cleaning up your community, but you’ll also be making some money.
5 Exciting Facts About Recycling Cans
Preferred choice
Consumers now buy soft drinks in aluminum cans four times more than plastic bottles and 38 times more than glass bottles.
Massive recycling rate
105,784 aluminum cans are recycled each minute in the U.S., representing a total recycling rate of about 50%.
Billion dollars earned
Since recycling started, consumers have earned over 10 billion dollars by returning their aluminum beverage cans to the over 10,000 buy-back centers operating nationwide.
Conserve energy
The energy saved by recycling one aluminum can is enough to power your television for two hours.
Circling the Earth
If you arrange all the aluminum cans recycled in 2010 end to end, they could circle the earth 169 times.
Why NATIONAL CRUSH A CAN DAY is Important
It’s eco-friendly
Recycling cans reduces carbon emissions and helps our environment stay cleaner. Recycling aluminum cans also saves a significant amount of energy.
It saves space
Over 1 million tons of aluminum is thrown away every year, and some of this waste ends up in landfills. Recycling cans reduces waste and the need for garbage landfills.
It saves money
Manufacturing metal cans from recycled materials requires less time and energy than producing them from raw materials. Recycling cans save cost, energy, and space.
NATIONAL CRUSH A CAN DAY dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2025 | September 27 | Saturday |
2026 | September 27 | Sunday |
2027 | September 27 | Monday |
2028 | September 27 | Wednesday |
2029 | September 27 | Thursday |