Aluminum is one of America's recycling success stories, although we still throw out enough each year to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet. Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy used to make a can from scratch and cuts related air pollution by 95% as well.

Tin cans are 99% steel with a layer of tin added to prevent rusting. Americans use 100 million tin and steel cans every year. Recycling these cans saves 74% of the energy used to make them from scratch.

Many communities accept all types of metal beverage and food containers. Cans should be uncrushed, clean with the labels removed. It's best to leave the tin lid attached to a tin can to insure that the lid makes its way through the recycling process. Clean aluminum foil and pie plates can also be recycled. Metal screw tops and jar lids, paint cans, car parts, building supplies, nails, screws, bent hinges, old lawnchair frames, cast iron, etc. may not be included in your local program.