Automobile manufacturing has been one of the main uses of aluminum, and about 90% of it that is used to make vehicles has been recycled. An estimated one-third of all aluminum in the US is used for automobiles. Aluminum is much more lightweight than steel and typically is preferable for automobile parts such as wheel rims, radiators, cylinders and pistons. This metal's lighter weight allows vehicles to move more efficiently, using less fuel and emitting less pollution.
More about aluminum:
- Recycling one aluminum can could save enough energy to burn a light for four hours.
- The US had about 17.83 billion pounds (8.1 billion kg) of aluminum in 2009, with a total value of about $40 billion US Dollars (USD). About half of the total supply was made domestically, 30% had been recycled, and the rest had been imported.
- The second most common use of aluminum in the US is in packaging. About one-fifth of this metal is used for items such as beverage cans and foil.