It is important to minimize breakage wherever possible. It helps to flatten the large steel cans, such as coffee cans. This keeps the smaller aluminum cans from falling into the larger steel cans. Once that happens, the aluminum gets processed with the steel which has a much lower market value. Keep things clean.
Cleanliness is very important to successful marketing of the glass and plastic containers.
Since the cans will be mixed with these items, it is important to fully rinse all containers clean. Removing labels is not necessary but helps. If labels are removed it helps to keep the mix of recyclables cleaner and improve the marketability of broken glass. Labels from cans are the easiest to remove - use recycled dishwater for this purpose. Loose lids removed from steel cans cannot be captured in the recycling system.