Abstract: A can crusher is provided with a can feed hopper having an open inlet at the top of the can crusher through which opening a plurality of cans may be inserted one after another to fill the hopper. Sequentially, each can falls by gravity into a crushing compartment where a power-driven ram crushes the can axially to crumple the can's cylindrical wall thereby reducing the can's length to about one-fourth or less of its original length. The crushed can falls by gravity through a discharge chute to be automatically discharged. Each can in the hopper automatically falls in succession into the crushing compartment to be crushed and discharged. To prevent human fingers from being inserted through the hopper inlet or the discharge chute and into the crushing compartment, the guiding chute paths are non-linear and/or tortuous to reduce the length thereof and to block a straight finger insertion into the crushing compartment.