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THE I SR I SCRAP YEARBOOK
2016
INSTITUTE OF SCRAP RECYCLING INDUSTRIES, INC.
30
Aluminum
Aluminum holds the distinction of being both the youngest
and the most widely used among all the base nonferrous
metals in the U.S. Aluminum is known to be a lightweight,
ductile, malleable, and corrosion resistant metal, making
it a popular choice
with manufacturers.
As with other
nonferrous metals,
aluminum is also
inherently recyclable
and recycled
aluminum is highly
valued as a raw material input for new aluminum production.
In 2015, USGS figures show aluminum metal recovered from
purchased new and old scrap in the United States totaled
about 3.46 million metric tons.
Aluminum can be recycled from a wide range of obsolete
products including used beverage containers, aluminum
siding, old radiators, used wire and cable, automobile and
truck wheels, as well as end of life vehicles and airplanes.
ISRI estimates that aluminum recovered scrap represented
more than 50 percent of total U.S. apparent aluminum
consumption in 2015. In addition, the U.S. exported more
than 1.5 million metric tons of aluminum scrap worldwide
last year. See below for more information about U.S.
aluminum scrap consumption, product lifecycles and
global trade.
The U.S. Aluminum Industry
YEAR
2011
3,110,000
5,099,000
2,125,000
2012
3,430,000
5,768,000
2,034,000
2013
3,480,000
6,196,000
1,867,000
2014
3,640,000
6,230,000
1,716,000
2015
3,460,000
6,719,000
1,554,000
* Includes UBC’s and Remelt Secondary Ingot.
ALUMINUM RECOVERED
FROM SCRAP (MT)
TOTAL ALUMINUM
USAGE (MT)
ALUMINUM SCRAP
EXPORTS*(MT)