Antony McAulay / Shutterstock.com Aluminum Cans Put in Container Recycling Antony McAulay / Shutterstock.com Empty cans belong in a blue recycling bin labeled “Containers Only” or under the darker colored lid of a split recycling cart. When possible, please rinse and drain cans before recycling. Cans with California Redemption Value (CRV) can also be taken to a buyback location. To find one near you, use the search engine found here. Note that it is best not to crush cans before recycling. Did You Know? The Aluminium Beverage Can Industry How Quickly Are Soda Cans Recycled? It only takes about 60 days for soda cans to make it back onto store shelves after they are recycled. How Much Energy Does Recycling Soda Cans Save? A single new soda can (made with virgin aluminum) uses the same amount of energy as twenty soda cans that are made from recycled material. Also, recycling one soda can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours.