Hydro’s Extrusion Americas unit reported recycling more than 207 million pounds of scrap aluminum in 2009. Of this, nearly 20 percent was post-consumer waste. The balance was post-industrial waste.
Hydro remelts the scrap at its facilities in Phoenix, St. Augustine, Fla., and Monett, Mo., where it is combined with primary (virgin) aluminum using proprietary Hydro technology to produce the aluminum billet required for new extruded products for its customers. These new products average more than 70 percent recycled content, yet they show no loss in strength or other performance characteristics.
 “Although our total 2009 recycling volume was flat compared to the previous year, we’re still pleased. The scrap market was very soft due to the recession, yet we still hit our goal for over 70 percent recycled content,” says Lynn Brown, Extrusion Americas’ senior vice president for sales and marketing. “That success fits with our global corporate mission to provide our customers with environmentally compatible products.” With these high levels of recycled content, Hydro’s aluminum extrusions are a good choice for designers and engineers looking to give their products a “green” profile. This can be particularly appealing industries such as renewable energy, building, and hybrid auto manufacturing. 
Hydro acquires scrap aluminum from a number of sources. Some of it comes from buy-back programs with its industrial customers. The post-consumer waste is purchased, and comprises used auto wheels, wire, old window frames and other aluminum products that would otherwise end up in America’s landfills.