When you say tin cans - do you mean aluminum drink cans? Or do you mean the cans that, for instance, tuna fish or canned vegetables come in?

For aluminum, that's been valuable to recycle for a long time now. As a matter of fact, I remember taking long walks along the road with the family as a kid, we could collect aluminum cans, crush them, and then when we had a bagful, take them to the metal scrap shop to sell.

THAT was true recycling. Most of what is called recycling today seems like an awful waste or resources.