Sponsors
The bill seeks to strengthen domestic aluminum recycling, supply resilience, and public data to support industry and policy, but it could raise taxpayer costs and risk disrupting international scrap markets—potentially increasing costs for exporters and downstream users.
U.S. manufacturers, recyclers, and related small businesses could get policy recommendations to increase domestic aluminum supply, supporting domestic production and jobs.
State and local governments and critical-industry stakeholders will receive analysis on exports to foreign entities of concern, helping reduce strategic supply-chain risks for critical industries.
Local governments and communities could benefit from recommendations on improved collection and sorting technologies, which may raise recycling rates and reduce landfill volumes.
Exporters, downstream users, and businesses could face higher costs if recommendations to retain scrap domestically lead to trade restrictions or export limits and disrupt existing global scrap markets.
U.S. taxpayers and state governments will bear additional administrative and implementation costs from recurring, detailed studies and reporting requirements imposed on USGS and EPA.
Manufacturers and recyclers may find the study less useful because its scoped focus on industrial and automotive sources could omit other significant sources of aluminum loss.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires USGS, with EPA input, to study and report every 3 years on aluminum landfilled, exports, recycling gaps, and policy options to keep scrap domestic.
Introduced March 18, 2026 by Robert J. Wittman · Last progress March 18, 2026
Requires the U.S. Geological Survey, working with the EPA, to study how much aluminum is thrown into landfills and to report findings to Congress within 3 years and every 3 years after that. Reports must estimate annual landfilled aluminum and exports, identify gaps in collection and sorting, recommend policies to keep scrap in the U.S., and analyze effects on domestic manufacturing and reliance on foreign entities of concern. No new funding, deadlines for other agencies, or direct mandates on states or private parties are included; the measure creates a recurring federal study and reporting requirement focused on aluminum waste, recycling, exports, and supply-chain risks.