Aluminum is the most extreme example, where the recycle cost is a very small fraction of the production cost, but copper, steel, and other metals are generally still worth recycling.
Plastic and newspaper and the like are a lib joke, they are just too stupid to get it.
Newspaper has been recycled for at least fifty years. It's used to make wallboard (drywall). But I doubt if everyone recycled it, there would be a market. Of course, I doubt if I will ever buy a newspaper or magazine again.