Abstract: A double-acting can crusher comprising a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, a substantially cylindrical sheath extending horizontally above the shaft in parallel relation thereto, a pair of spaced cylindrical crushing blocks mounted at the horizontal ends of the sheath, a substantially rectangular upper opening extending along the top portion of the sheath and being sufficiently wide to permit the passage of uncrushed cans into the sheath, a lower opening in the sheath extending longitudinally below the upper opening, the lower opening being sufficiently wide at the ends thereof to permit the passage of crushed cans therethrough but being sufficiently narrow in the central or major portion thereof to prevent the passage of uncrushed cans therethrough, a collar mounted on the shaft for movement back and forth along the shaft, an endless reverse helical groove on the shaft, a pin freely received in a hole in the collar and disposed at right angles to the shaft, an arcuate tongue on the pin received