Disposing of cat food cans?

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starling

Member Since 2014
I hope this isn't too off-topic, but I just started feeding canned food to my cat, and he's much better (thanks to all of you!) so that's going great, but for some reason, I keep cutting myself on the pry-off lids whenever I try to wash the cans before taking them to the recycling bin. It's a little bit of a hike to the bin, so I don't take them out right away, and they accumulate in the sink, soaking for a most a day. It's when I'm washing them that I've cut myself. I guess I don't see the lid, reach in and slice my finger, and it's happened twice.

And maybe it's just my clumsiness, but how do you handle, or not handle, all these sharp-lids?
 
Yay! Glad to see another can recycler! :-D

Can't say I've ever cut myself on a cat food can, but I use a long-handled dish brush to clean them out so my hand and fingers never touch the sharp edges. I keep a tall plastic clothes hamper in the laundry room that I toss 'em in after they've been washed and just take the whole hamper to the recycling center when it's full.
 
My can cleaner has not complained.
 

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I just rinse them out with water and toss them in a small sealable trash can similar to those used to store dry pet food that have a seal on the lid. That eliminates odor and once it's full I take the trash bag out to the recycling bin. I don't use my fingers or anything else while rinsing... :lol:
 
Larry and Kitties said:
My can cleaner has not complained.
Click to expand...

Larry and Kitties - that is hilarious! :lol:

I used to have a can cleaner very similar to that, but sadly have never replaced it with a newer model.
 
I have a separate covered trash can in my kitchen for recycles. Our recycler does not require us to wash them so I just toss them in it and take them out to the big bin every coupld of days.

My dog Minnie would love to be my can cleaner, but I am afraid that she may cut her tongue.
 
Protect your hands - you don't want to make blood offerings when disposing of the cans!

I use a long handled dish brush to swish out the cans with water and swab off the lids as it reduces odor buildup as the bag gets fuller.
 
I too use a long handled brush I picked up at the dollar store or Aldi's. I also have a small plastic trash can that I put the clean recycling in to collect before taking it to the tote, but we have an attached garage & a large recycling tote (that we fill almost every week since I recycle everything!).
 
Our recycling service (SF Bay Area) specifically instructs us to only rinse to get rid of running liquid but to not rinse all the way because of the water waste. You might give your service a call to ask about it.
 
I suppose you could bake them, then take a wire brush to them to scrape out food particles.

Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr Seuss's The Cat In The Hat could probably help too ...


(Reminds me of 2 of my GA civvie Emmy's kittens. The adopter called them Thing1 and Thing 2 ... then changed their names to Typhoon and Tsunami ... 2 natural disasters!)
 
I use the lid to split the cat food in the can in half and this usually "rinses" off any gunk that might have stayed. Then, after depositing the food into their bowls, I fill the can halfway with water and use a baby spoon to make "gravy" with the residual deposits and pour it over their food before mushing it all together. The can is usually clean enough when I'm done with it. No wasted water, no cuts, no extra time later to clean it.
 
Wow, your answers were so helpful. I found a pair of heavy dishwashing gloves under the sink, along with a dishwashing brush I bought and never used, and then I remembered someone gave me a too-small-for-anything-else metal, step-on waste can. So I'm using the brush to swish the cans and lids as soon as I empty them, and then I toss them in the can, and I'll sashay the bucket out to the recycling bin when it's full. My fingers thank you!!!
 
Since I always add water to their food, when preparing the meals, I open the cans, put the lids in the recycle trash can/bag I have, empty the food into dish, add water to the can, swirl and use the spoon to scrape anything on the sides, dump into food dish, then I toss the can into the recycle trash can/bag - when full I take to the recycle dumpster outside.

Easy breezy, no need to leave the cans in the sink or soak/rinse anymore.....
 
It may not be the best environmental choice (and this is coming from someone who recycles everything), but I throw the lids out as soon as the can is opened and recycle the can when finished.

My fingers never touch a sharp edge. Once the can is empty, I immediately rinse the can (some of the liquid is used to water down the food) and throw it into a recyclable bag. No cuts, a little water and no smell. If there is any smell before the bag is full, everything goes to the recycle bin ASAP.

Hope this helps.
 
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