15 clever ways to repurpose old food cans and minimise waste
Cut down on waste and turn literal trash into DIY treasure.
Empty food cans can quickly pile up, but the good news is there are lots of creative ways to repurpose them. Whether you're stuck with old soup cans, large crushed tomato cans, or shallow tuna cans, there's a way to reuse them all. They can easily be turned into storage vessels, indoor and outdoor planters, crafting supplies, and even festive holiday decorations. If you want to curb waste and turn literal rubbish into DIY treasure, reusing food cans is an excellent way to do both.
The following DIY projects are simple, inexpensive, and several of them are kid-friendly. Before you do anything with the food cans, make sure you wash and dry them thoroughly, check for any rust spots, and sand down the sharp edges along the rim. Once they're clean and safe to work with, repurpose them in one of these 15 pretty and practical ways.
Arrange flowers
Turn an empty food can into a simple vase that adds instant rustic charm. Remove the label and any sticky residue, and ensure there are no sharp edges along the rim. Instead of pouring water directly in the can, place a small glass inside and add water before arranging your flowers.
Try a craft project
If you're looking for a fun, kid-friendly craft idea, grab some empty food cans and turn them into playful characters like this Fran-can-stein! Use paint, permanent pens, felt, lace, ribbon, and decorative accents such as buttons, googly eyes, and sequins to bring the characters to life.
Organise writing utensils
Repurpose an old food can into a storage vessel for writing utensils that are otherwise strewn all over the desk. This way, they stay upright, neatly contained, yet within easy reach. Plus, when it's time to clean your desk, you can simply move the can rather than having to corral countless pens.
Grow seedlings
For a cheap way to start a garden, reuse old food cans to plant seedlings. Don't forget to drill holes in the bottoms of the cans to ensure proper drainage, then place the cans in a spot that gets direct sunlight—such as a windowsill—for best results.
Fashion a rustic centrepiece
Transform a humble food can into a rustic centrepiece with a few craft supplies. Clean the empty can and tightly wrap a piece of faux tree bark around the exterior. Tie string, ribbon, or twine around the middle for a finishing touch, and either place a candle or flowers inside the centrepiece.
Design whimsical party decorations
DIY your party decor with the help of empty food cans. Make bright and budget-friendly decorations by wrapping the can's exterior with different coloured strips of paper. Attach matching paper strips from the bottom for a streamer-like effect. To hang the decorations, drill two holes along the rim and use colourful ribbon or string to hang.
Create a vertical garden
If you have limited outdoor space, install a vertical garden complete with up-cycled food can planters. All you need is a wood palette, large food cans, and an assortment of exterior paints. When drilling the painted cans onto the palette, make sure to also drill holes in the cans' bottoms to allow for water to drain.
Give homemade candles a try
If you've been itching to give candle making a try, why not repurpose old food cans to do so? Small and shallow cans work well and their compact size makes them ideal for gifting. Sand down any sharp edges and clean the cans to remove food and sticky label residue.
Maximise pegboard storage
Maximise pegboard storage in a craft room, garage, or garden shed with a couple of old food cans. Prop them on an attached shelf and use them to store craft supplies and small tools. Get creative and decorate the cans to fit with the pegboard theme, turning the utilitarian containers into pretty decorative accents.
Plant succulents
Since succulents don't require a ton of water and don't have super long roots, you can plant them in old food cans. Here's a unique idea for party favours—plant an assortment of succulent plants in small, shallow cans to delight guests. Even if they don't have a green thumb, succulents are low-maintenance plants that require minimal care.
Make Jack-O'-lanterns
If you love a kid-friendly autumnal craft, use old food cans to make festive Jack-o'-lanterns. Trace a stencil to draw the face, then drill small holes one next to the other to create the cut-out design. Sand down any sharp edges, spray paint it a quintessential shade of Halloween-orange, and place a tea-light inside.
Corral cutlery for cookouts
Use old food cans to keep cutlery for cookouts and garden bbq's in order. It's an easy way to organise silverware, carry it outside, and divide it among tables if you're hosting an outdoor get-together. Keep the cans plain or decorate them with the party theme.
Set up a carnival-style game
Collect old food cans to repurpose them into a fun, carnival-style game. Divide the empty cans into three or four groups and paint each a vibrant colour. Stack the colourful cans and have players use bean bags or small balls to try to knock down them down. First person to knock down the stack wins!
Turn cans into decorative storage vessels
A piece of felt, lace, and ribbon is all it takes to transform a plain food can into a decorative storage vessel. Secure the base fabric with hot glue and add non-slip felt pads to the bottom to protect your surfaces. Use the decorated can as a desk organiser for office supplies like pens and scissors.
DIY hanging lanterns
Take the DIY approach to garden decor and fashion your own lanterns out of old food cans. Drill holes into the cans to create a decorative pattern, and place two holes along the rim for hanging purposes.
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