Aluminum Trays and Pans Put in Container Recycling Empty aluminum trays and pans belong in a blue recycling bin labeled “Containers Only” or under the darker colored lid of a split recycling cart. Before recycling, please rinse off as much food residue as possible. Ways to Reuse Clean and Save Aluminum trays and pans can be washed and reused multiple times. You can also put them to use storing craft materials, shed or garage items, or catching drips from household plants. Did You Know? Why Recycle Aluminum? Recycling aluminum conserves 95 percent of the energy that is typically spent when making new aluminum, which makes it the most valuable item you can recycle.