Hi! Former aluminum process engineer here. Caution– not a metallurgical engineer.
Really simplified version: if you recycle car body parts and cans and radiators and building metal, you can’t make car body parts again out of them without diluting impurities down with prime (new) aluminum. So to recycle it is amazing, better than most products (since it offsets a TON of energy, way more than the same workable unit of glass or steel or anything). But just recycling doesnt fix it, you need some prime. Most of the US prime comes by way of Ontario, China, or Australia. Since a lot of the aluminum production is on the East coast in general, Ontario sees the most of it.
Seems like a very effective way to impact the US in response to the ridiculous tariff/trade negotiation situation
Well they could recycle the aluminum they already have.
Theoretically. But they won’t because they probably think recycling is gay or something dumb like that.
Hi! Former aluminum process engineer here. Caution– not a metallurgical engineer.
Really simplified version: if you recycle car body parts and cans and radiators and building metal, you can’t make car body parts again out of them without diluting impurities down with prime (new) aluminum. So to recycle it is amazing, better than most products (since it offsets a TON of energy, way more than the same workable unit of glass or steel or anything). But just recycling doesnt fix it, you need some prime. Most of the US prime comes by way of Ontario, China, or Australia. Since a lot of the aluminum production is on the East coast in general, Ontario sees the most of it.
Seems like a very effective way to impact the US in response to the ridiculous tariff/trade negotiation situation
The exact same concern came up in 2016 tariffs. Doing the same thing, expecting different results.
US recycles about 75% of their aluminum. Other countries it’s close to 95%. But some aluminum alloys require virgin metal.
Having not yet read the article my guess is they ship it North to take advantage of cheaper electricity in places like Quebec
Alcan has its own hydro power dams in Quebec.
Nah Quebec just produces a lot of aluminum. US does recycle aluminum, just a lot of it goes to the landfill.