Abstract: A can crusher comprising a container, a reversible motor mounted therein, a pinion gear driven by said motor and a gear driven by said motor and a gear of greater diameter driven by said pinion gear. A threaded shaft, having right hand threads on one side and left hand threads on the opposite side, is provided as the gear of greater diameter. A pair of can-crushing arms, one geared to the right hand threads and the other geared to the left hand threads, effects crushing of a can therebetween. A reversing switch is operated by one of the can-crushing arms after predetermined movement in the crushing direction to drive the arms apart.