US Lost $1.2 Billion in Aluminum to Landfills in 2023
Low recycling rates force manufacturers to rely on imports, creating supply chain vulnerabilities.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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Should the US prioritize better waste-sorting technology to increase its domestic supply of industrial materials?
The United States discarded $1.2 billion worth of aluminum in 2023, failing to recover 61 billion cans as national recycling rates stalled at 43%. This waste increases industrial reliance on international markets, which supplied 60% of US aluminum in 2025.
Why it matters
Recovering aluminum requires 95.5% less energy than processing raw ore, making efficient recycling a critical hedge against power grid strain and volatile import costs. With $26.5 billion in aluminum imports in 2025, domestic waste represents a significant missed opportunity to reduce raw material dependency.
The US landfilled 61 billion of the 107 billion aluminum cans shipped in 2023, while domestic production remained insufficient to offset the $26.5 billion in imports recorded in 2025. Recycling rates reached only 43%, though optimized facilities like Brooklyn's Sunset Park recovery center achieve 89% capture rates.
The players
Greyparrot
A technology provider that deploys AI camera systems to track and characterize waste objects on recycling facility sorting belts.
Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility
A waste processing center in Brooklyn that utilizes advanced sorting technology to achieve an 89% aluminum recovery rate.
The details
Waste analytics firms like Greyparrot use AI camera systems on sorting belts to identify and track materials, brands, and products in real time. By converting waste streams into precise data points, operators can calibrate sorting machinery to achieve higher recovery yields. The system has performed over one trillion waste detections globally to improve the efficiency of material recovery facilities.
Timeline
2023: The US discarded $1.2 billion in aluminum.
2025: The US imported $26.5 billion of aluminum.
September 2026: Greyparrot released its waste data findings.
Market Landscape
This data follows a pattern established by the 2025 US aluminum import supply share, illustrating how domestic waste impacts national material security. The report highlights that the current 60% import dependency is a direct consequence of low domestic recycling recovery rates.
Operations managers should monitor the energy-intensive costs of virgin material sourcing versus recycled alternatives. Facilities should evaluate whether AI-driven sorting upgrades can improve yield rates and reduce reliance on expensive, imported raw commodities.
The takeaway
The high energy cost of raw ore processing makes aluminum recovery a critical efficiency lever for domestic operations. Track your facility's capture rate against the national 43% baseline to identify potential savings on material procurement.
Further reading
For more on national trends affecting supply chains, see our Economic Indicators section.
Live Poll
Should the US prioritize better waste-sorting technology to increase its domestic supply of industrial materials?
