National Crush Day

National Crush Day - Friday, September 27, 2024

Environmental Civic

National Crush Day, also referred to as Crush a Can Day, is held every September 27 and highlights the importance of recycling. It’s a reminder that recycling reduces carbon emissions, saves money, and cuts down on waste. National Crush Day is an opportunity for those who care about the environment to advocate for recycling. Let’s all pitch in and do our part

History of National Crush Day

In modern society it’s hard to think of a world without cans, they are such a common commodity and so very necessary. They are actually one of the oldest methods of preserving food, predating Mason jars by several decades. The origin of cans can be dated back to 1795 when Napoleon commissioned 12,000 Francs to anyone who can devise a way of preserving food for his army & navy. After some time, a Frenchman by the name of Nicolas Alpert created the process of sterilization which paved the way for canned goods. Just nine years later a British merchant named Peter Durand received a patent from King George III for preserving food in tin cans. By 1819 cans were introduced to New York City and quickly became very popular in the United States.

By 1938 the first canned beer was introduced by the Kruger Brewing Company of Richmond, Virginia, called “Krueger Cream Ale.” And by the 1960s the use of tin cans was common for everything from tuna to motor oil. This type of can was popular because it could be easily molded, could support carbonated pressure, was lighter, and did not rust. However, by 1970, which was also the first year Earth Day took place, recycling started to get much more attention. Today in the United States, 105,784 aluminum cans are recycled each minute — leading to an overall recycling rate of nearly 50%, the highest recycling rate for any beverage container. Due to the infinite recyclability of aluminum, 75% of all aluminum produced is still in circulation. This means that aluminum cans contain an average of 73% recycled content. Making a can from old cans uses 90% less energy and generates 90% less emissions compared to producing that same can from virgin material. So remember to recycle your cans and try your best to keep our planet clean!

National Crush Day timeline

1985

Cans in Space

Astronauts in outer space receive carbonated beverages in cans for the first time.

1972

The First 6-Pack

Multi-packs for beverage cans are introduced.

1959

Cash for Cans

Bill Coors' engineers revealed the first seamless recyclable aluminum can in 1959, and later a program called Cash for Cans offering a penny for each can or glass bottle returned for recycling.

1858

The Can Opener

Ezra J. Warner (Waterbury, Connecticut) patents the first can opener! This was used heavily by the US military during the civil war.

1813

The Can Factory

John Hall and Bryan Dorkin opened the first commercial canning factory in England.

National Crush Day FAQs

Is today Confess to Your Crush Day?

While we always encourage you to express your feelings, today is about recycling! Maybe invite your crush on a recycling adventure?

Is today National Kissing Day?

Sorry, National Kissing Day is June 22, but hey, no need to have a calendar tell you when to smooch.

When is National Crush Day in Canada?

National Crush Day is September 27 world-wide.

5 Can Facts

  1. What they save

    Recycling one tin can save enough energy to run a television for 3 hours.

  2. What they earn

    Americans earn about $1 Billion a year recycling aluminum cans.

  3. How they melt

    Aluminum begins to melt at 1220 degrees Fahrenheit.

  4. Carbonation Nation

    The world's beer and soda consumption uses about 200 billion aluminium cans every year. This is 6,700 cans every second – enough to go around the planet every 17 hours.

  5. Eliminate Our Footprint

    2% of the world's energy use is spent on producing aluminium. Producing aluminium from recycled aluminium cans only takes 5% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum.

National Crush Day Activities

  1. Spread the word

    Be an advocate for recycling by convincing your friends and family to recycle their used metal. Start a campaign to make sure everyone you know is doing their part to protect the environment.

  2. Make it a game

    Remember "kick" the can? How about "crush" the can? Put some fun in recycling by getting the kids together to stomp on those aluminum cans before they go into the recycling bin.

  3. Be an advocate

    Research your area's recycling policies and become an advocate for stronger recycling laws. Help your local elected officials appreciate the need for recycling.

Why We Love National Crush Day

  1. It saves money

    It takes far less energy to produce cans and other metal storage containers from recycled materials than to make them from scratch. Crushing cans and sending them to the recycling center saves money.

  2. It saves space

    The world is dotted with landfills. Garbage has to go somewhere. Crushing cans and putting them out for recycling means less waste and less need for landfills.

  3. It saves the planet

    Excessive waste contributes negatively to climate change. Recycling metals reduces carbon emissions and has a positive impact on the environment.

Also on Fri Sep 27, 2024...

Yom Kippur
Sep 27
Tourism Day
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Rivers Day
Sep 27