Described herein is a method for recycling aluminum alloy wheels. The method includes the steps of providing a feed of aluminum alloy wheels of a particular alloy; fragmenting the aluminum alloy wheels into a plurality of fragments, such that newly exposed surfaces of the plurality of fragments have an interior composition; determining a newly exposed surface indicia for distinguishing each newly exposed surface in the feed of aluminum alloy wheels; determining an aggregate composition estimate by determining a plurality of composition measurements of the material of fragments of the plurality of fragments; and providing the plurality of fragments, and the aggregate composition estimate, for use in manufacturing at least one component made from aluminum alloy.