Police have worked with a housing association to run the project on the Beechfarm Estate in Swinton.
The government plans to ban the sale of so-called legal highs, which would include nitrous oxide - also known as "hippy crack" - for human use.
Health experts warn the gas can have dangerous side effects if inhaled.
The art project, to run during the summer holidays, will use the containers to create decorative tiles in Margaret's Garden, Kingsley Road.
PC Iain Fletcher said: "We hope this arts project will help us educate the young people in Salford that the abuse of nitrous oxide is not as safe as they may think it is."
Last year, seized cannabis plant pots recovered during a drugs raid were decorated and reused "to brighten up the estate", Salix Homes said.
Lee Sugden, from the housing association, said: "We hope this arts project will make young people aware of the dangers and help us turn a negative into a positive by putting the remnants of drug abuse to good use."

Luke Davenport, 24, from Cambridge, was left in an induced coma after the collision in June.
He is now home and undergoing rehabilitation to recover from multiple broken bones.
Mr Davenport will be on the sidelines at the British Touring Car Championships in Norfolk on Sunday.
He said the crash had not thwarted his dream of participating in the Le Mans 24-hour race one day.
The incident on 10 June, at the Croft Circuit, in North Yorkshire, happened when Mr Davenport aquaplaned off the track.
He was unable to restart the car and other drivers ended up colliding with Mr Davenport's driver's side door.
Mr Davenport, who lives in Madingley, broke his left tibia, fibula and ankle, damaged ligaments in his right leg and broke his pelvis.
He also broke four ribs, punctured both lungs and broke his collarbone.
Mr Davenport, who dreamt of becoming a racing car driver from the age of seven, started physiotherapy this week.
He said: "We are so fortunate that I'm going to make a full recovery.
"There are a lot of stories of some big names in the sport who have come back from serious crashes to fuel the fire."
Mr Davenport, who started karting before stepping up to touring cars in 2012, said being at Snetterton on Sunday will be "emotional".
"It's Snetterton where I got my first drive, it's my local track and my friends and family were going to be there to watch.
"Just when the car's got race-winning potential, I'm not going to be racing," said the Shredded Wheat Racing driver.
Hundreds of discarded laughing gas cylinders in Salford are being turned into public art to "highlight the dangers" of young people inhaling it.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A touring car driver who was seriously injured in an 11-car pile-up is prepared for an "emotional" return to the racing scene.