13 Brilliant Ways You Can Be Reusing Your Empty Soda Cans

There’s nothing more refreshing than a cold ~insert your favorite soda here~ on a hot summer’s day. But what’s not-so-great is having cans upon cans piling up in your recycling bin. Sure, you can bring them to a recycling center and earn a few bucks for your donation. But why not get crafty and use your empty soda cans for DIY projects the entire family can enjoy just as much as (if not more than) the soda itself?

According to the National Park Service (NPS) website, last year, 36 billion aluminum cans were buried in landfills. That amount of scrap metal is worth over $600 million. NPS notes that if we don’t improve our can recycling habits, we’ll be forced to mine our landfills for aluminum in the years to come. Luckily, 50% of cans produced today are made up of recycled aluminum.

But if you’re looking to repurpose aluminum cans within your home, more power to you! As long as you’re recycling and reusing, you’re doing a good thing. Check out the below DIY projects that will put your old soda cans to good use.

1. Can Herb Garden

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/462815299189781426/]

Carefully cut the top off of your soda cans, paint them, and then plant. Easy-peasy.

2. Birdfeeder

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/28851253839442604/]

Remove the top and bottom from your soda can (a soup can was used in the above pin) and glue half-circle shaped stoppers on either end. Loop string or rope through the top, fill with seed, and you’re done.

3. Seasonal Wreath

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/255579347586476500/]

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/481603753896354071/]

Cut leaves, flowers, or truly any shape from your soda can. Then, paint or decorate with paper. Finally, attach your shapes to a metal hoop or wire.

4. DIY Twinkly Light Strands

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/119626933828987291/]

Cut your own shapes from your soda cans and punch a hole in the center. Glue the shapes onto a strand of regular old twinkly lights and you’ve got yourself a one-of-a-kind decor piece.

[facebook_ia_ad_tag adid=”1″]

5. Tea Light Lantern

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/570268371543892559/]

Tea light candles fit perfectly into soda cans — who knew?

6. Ingredient Labels

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/190206784235679088/]

Use a dull pencil or the end of a paintbrush to write the names of all your pantry ingredients on pre-cut pieces of soda cans (just remember to write backwards if you want your letters to be raised on the opposite side).

7. Garden Markers

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/140596819590678301/]

The former method also works great for garden markers. Or, invest in some metal stamps to get the effect shown in the above pin.

8. DIY Vases

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/421157002646734487/]

Similar to the herb garden project, simply cut the top off your cans and paint.

9. Decorative Laterns

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/404268504037976164/]

The above were made with recycled soup cans, but soda cans would work just as well. All you need is a metal punch, or an awl and your imagination.

10. Colorful Ornaments

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/160088961737203945/]

For your Christmas tree, boho home decor, or even just to hang from your rearview mirror.

11. “Can”dles

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/522347256760736015/]

A perfect DIY for gifts — and for a good laugh.

[facebook_ia_ad_tag adid=”2″]

12. Duct Tap And Soda Can Pinwheels

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/136585801174111866/]

The duct tape will help keep the kiddos safe from the sharp edges.

13. DIY Windchime

[fm_pinterest url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/458593174529456532/]

Is this DIY or something from Anthropologie? We can’t tell.

[facebook_ia_ad_tag adid=”3″]

Start saving those cans and get busy with some summer DIY projects. And remember, those you don’t save can be recycled!