Aluminum Association pushes aluminum use in infrastructure proposals

Pittsburgh — The Aluminum Association is calling on US Congress to include policies in upcoming infrastructure-focused recovery legislation that will prioritize the use of aluminum and other sustainable materials, the group said June 17.

"We know that aluminum will be a critical building material in this new infrastructure because it is light weight, corrosion resistant and infinitely recyclable," Aluminum Association CEO Tom Dobbins said in a letter to members of Congress. "As manufacturers who rely on efficient transportation and a reliable infrastructure, the US aluminum industry strongly supports your efforts to increase public and private infrastructure funding, including those measure that will increase operational efficiencies and prioritize sustainability."

Dobbins said aluminum's designation as vital for national security and critical manufacturing, as recognized by the US Department of Commerce and US Department of Defense, emphasized the need for the metal in upcoming infrastructure spending.

"Aluminum is a fundamental element of American manufacturing, supporting aerospace, transportation, construction, defense, packaging, infrastructure and many other segments of the US economy," he said.

Among the proposals, Dobbins said government investment in electrical grid modernization and electric vehicle infrastructure would be key in supporting economic growth, adding that aluminum would be vital for such projects.

"The use of aluminum in any new EV charging infrastructure would demonstrate similar benefits as those seen in high-voltage long distance transmission systems," the CEO said.

Dobbins said aluminum is also critical for any infrastructure projects involving public transportation and construction.

"Aluminum is used extensively as a building material in large public transportation building projects, combining incomparable visual aesthetics with a high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and desirable thermal properties," he said. "Aluminum's durability means it can serve its function in a building for many decades to reduce maintenance costs."

To enhance domestic aluminum supply in an effort to support large projects, Dobbins also proposed programs that promote increased recycling of sustainable materials.

"There is tremendous opportunity to enhance the recycling system to capture more aluminum, a critical manufacturing material," he said. "US aluminum producers depend on a stable supply of input materials both domestic and imported, including an increasing volume of secondary, or recycled, aluminum."

As an example, Dobbins said over $800 million worth of aluminum beverage cans alone are sent to landfills every year due to a lack of recycling initiatives.