I never throw a can away or the lids.  I use them for flowers. What I do is clean the can real good. I leave the lables on them. Like  beans, Tomatoes, or corn. I take glue/decoupage and cover the outside of the can real good. I put a couple of coats on the bottom of the can too.Then I fill it with potting soil and plant flowers in them. I buy up used plates and sausers and use them for under the pot. I give them as gifts. I also decoupage some with old cards I have. People love them for their kitches. I grow herbs and things. Also use them as starter platers for my vegables. The lids I paint and then glue felt on the bottom. I use them as coaster, and as hanging mobiles, they are pertty in the garden and they help keep birds away.  The decoupage and paint helps keep them from rusting. I aso buy plastic cat food lids, and use them to cover a  can so I can  to store things in them. Cans have a lot of uses if you think about it.

I almost forgot, boxes like hambugar helper, noodles, any kind of boxes. I use them as starter pots for my flowers, and veg. I also decoupage them and use them as boxes for gifts.