By Kelly DiGeronimo and Morgan Plessner
 2nd most abundant metallic element in the Earth’s
crust after Silicon
 Characteristics- light, malleable, ductile, resistant of
corrosion, and durable
 Aluminum recovery from scrap is an important and
vital part of the Al industry (Mechanics find it easy to
work with as well as packing industries who use it to
produce cans)
Packing 25%
Construction 15%
Transportation 34%
Electrical 8%
 1971-74 Price Controls
 1973-75 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) (oil
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embargo sharp recession)
1986-88 Worldwide supply shortages
1991 Dissolution of the Soviet Union
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, aluminum was actually considered a
scarce and expensive material-the tip of the Washington Memorial was
covered in aluminum as it was a rare metal at the time.
Since then, aluminum has become drastically less expensive to produce
through the new process of electrolysis, and its cultural significance
has changed entirely.
Now aluminum is one of the cheapest metals, priced below even lead,
copper, nickel, and tin. It would no longer receive a place of honor, but
is instead used many times in the average American's daily life, in the
kitchen, through technology, in vehicles, and in many other places.
 36% of exportation of Aluminum comes from Australia
 Australia, Germany, and China account for 20% of
consumption
 The United States, China, Japan, and Germany
account for 50% of consumption
 400 years to break down in land fills
 95% less energy to recycle aluminum than it does to
mine for new aluminum
 Can be recycled almost indefinitely because of its
chemical make-up
 Recycling produces 95% less air pollution and 97% less
water pollution than mining for new ore does
 Large amounts of Al are harmful to humans but the
only humans usually exposed to a high concentration
are miners
 The water-soluble form of Al is the most harmful to
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these miners
However, sometimes Al ions mix with other ions to
form substances harmful to people during their
everyday lives. (ex. Aluminum Chlorine)
The affects of this consist of: Damage to the central
nervous system
- Dementia
- Loss of memory
- Listlessness
- Severe trembling
 Organizations such as Aluminum Industrial
Partnership (VAIP) with the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the Pollution Prevention program
have been formed to promote awareness of the
benefits recycling Al
 Economically, recycling Aluminum is beneficial
because it is much cheaper to recycle compared to
mining for new ore
 When Al cans are recycled, money can be put towards
community services
 Callahan, Rob. "Harmful Effects of Not Recycling
Aluminum." eHow Health. Web. 26 Sep 2012.
<http://www.ehow.com/list_6156495_harmful-effectsnot-recycling-aluminum.html>.
 West, Larry. "The Benefits of Aluminum Recycling:
Why Recycle Aluminum." About.com Environmental
Issues. Web. 26 Sep 2012.
 "Aluminum." Water Treatment Solutions- Lenntech.
Lenntech. Web. 26 Sep 2012.
<http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/al.htm>.
 http://cdn2.content.compendiumblog.com/uploads/u
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dbf3/time_series_plot_of_aluminum__glass__paper__
plastics.jpg
 www.google.com/images-aluminum