You may start to think about storage if you collect aluminum cans in any quantity. Because air makes up a huge portion of each can, a bag of empty cans really takes up a lot more room than the metal itself. We get a lot of customers reaching out to us, worried about whether buying a can compactor is worth the expense and hassle.

A can compactor in Davenport can be anything from a big industrial device used by pubs, breweries and restaurants to a simple wall-mounted gadget for home kitchens. The residential models are easy to install, manual and pretty inexpensive. Because they lower a standard aluminium can down to about a quarter of its original height, you can store almost four times as many metal cans in the same amount of space. For the average family that goes through a reasonable amount of canned goods, a simple compactor can keep the pantry or garage a lot cleaner between recycling pickups.

Now, commercial compactors are a whole different story. They often just feed straight into a collection bin or hopper and use hydraulic pressure to squish out massive quantities of cans in no time. Because of the big labour savings, bars, breweries, sports arenas and restaurants usually fork out for one of these. The compacted material is also a lot easier to move around and staff don’t have to break their backs lugging heavy bags as much.

We get asked a lot if crushing cans before bringing them in makes any difference when it comes to getting paid at the recycling yard. The short answer is no, as long as they are clean and not contaminated. Whether the cans are crushed or intact, we weigh them by the pound and pay the same price per pound. Crushed cans are a lot easier to transport because they fit better in your truck or trailer, but the aluminiums value remains the same.

Our clients at Eco Way Recycle use all sorts of compactors, from the occasional homeowner with a neat sack of crushed cans to big businesses in Davenport with industrial compactors on a regular pickup route. Both are effective in their own way. It really comes down to how many cans you go through and how much space you have.

There are a few things to keep in mind though. Don’t put any dirt, food residue or other junk in compacted cans. If we find any of that in there, we’ll reject them. We don’t pay for the contents of the can, just the aluminium itself. To make sure your visit goes smoothly, bring clean, dry, crushed cans.

For anyone in Davenport thinking about buying a compactor, the math is pretty simple. If you’re only bringing in a few dozen cans every few weeks, you probably don’t need one. You’ve got enough room in a supermarket bag, and its not worth the hassle of doing it by hand. On the other hand, if you’re running a bar, organising an event or going through lots of canned drink throughout the year, a small unit can make a huge difference to storage and transport.

We are sometimes asked if we rent or sell compactors to business clients. Although we’re not a retailer, we’re happy to pass on some recommendations and point you in the direction of some reputable companies. If a compactor is part of your set up, we can also discuss with you the details of our pickup service and how you can save on staff costs by having it done on a regular basis.

Eco Way Recycle will happily accept your aluminium cans and pay you a fair price based on weight. Whether you crush them or not. In Davenport, a can compactor is a bit of a optional extra, that can be helpful in some situations but not in others. We are happy to help you work out if one is right for you.