Vehicle recycling is vehicle demolition for spare parts. At the end of its useful life, vehicles have value as a source of spare parts and this has created a vehicle dismantling industry. The industry has various names for its business outlets including destructive bases, car demolition pages, auto parts suppliers, and more recently, recycling cars or vehicles. Vehicle recycling always takes place at some level but in recent years manufacturers have been involved in this process. A car crusher is often used to reduce the size of a disposed vehicle for transportation to a steel mill.
Approximately 12-15 million vehicles reach the end of its use every year only in the United States alone. These cars, though out of commission, can still have a purpose by returning the metal and other recyclable materials contained therein. The vehicle is shredded and the metal content is recovered for recycling, while in many areas the rest is further sorted by the machine to recycle additional materials such as glass and plastic. The rest, known as automotive shredder residues, is incorporated into the landfill. The shredder residue of the vehicle not found for the metal contains many other recyclable materials including 30% of it as a polymer, and 5-10% of it as residual metal. Modern vehicle recycling makes every effort to recycle the waste materials. Currently, 75% of the material can be recycled. As the most recyclable consumer product, the end-of-life vehicle provides the steel industry with more than 14 million tons of steel.
Video Vehicle recycling
Process
The process of recycling vehicles is very complicated because many parts have to be recycled and many dangerous materials to be discarded. In short, the process begins with an incoming vehicle being inventoried for spare parts. Wheels and tires, batteries and catalytic converters are eliminated. Fluids, such as engine coolant fluids, oil, transmission fluids, air conditioning coolers, and gasoline, are dried and removed. Some high-value parts such as electronic modules, alternators, starter motors, infotainment systems - even engines or full transmissions - can be removed if they are serviceable and can be sold profitably; either in condition "as is" or for remanufacturing for restoration. Other hazardous materials such as mercury, and sodium azide (propellants used in air bags) can also be removed. After all parts and products inside are removed, the remaining shells from the vehicle sometimes need to be further processed, which includes removal of the air-conditioning evaporator and heating core, and the cables used. The remaining shells are then either crushed, or cut into dies, to facilitate large amounts of economic transportation to industrial crushing machines or hammer mills, where they are reduced to fist-sized metal pieces. Glass, plastic and rubber are removed from the mixture, and metals are sold by many tons to the steel mill for recycling.
Maps Vehicle recycling
Benefits
Steel recycling saves energy and natural resources. The steel industry saves enough energy to produce about 18 million households for a year, every year. Recycled metals also use about 74 percent less energy than making metals. Thus, recyclers of end-of-life vehicles save about 85 million barrels of oil per year to be used in the manufacture of other parts. Similarly, car recycling makes 11 million tons of steel and 800,000 non-ferrous metals out of landfills and back in consumer use. Prior to the 2003 model year, some of the vehicles manufactured were found to contain auto mercury switches, historically used in the convenience of lighting and anti-lock braking systems. Recyclers throw and recycle this mercury before the vehicle is shredded to prevent it from getting out into the environment. In 2007, more than 2,100 pounds of mercury were collected by 6265 recyclers.
Policy
European Union
In 1997, the European Commission adopted a Proposal for Directives aimed at making vehicle disassembly and recycling more environmentally friendly by setting clear targets for vehicle recycling. This proposal encourages many people in Europe to consider the environmental impact of the end-of-life vehicle. In September 2000, the End of Life Vehicle Directive was formally adopted by the EP and the Council. Over the next decade, more rules will be adopted to clarify aspects of law, national practice, and recommendations.
A number of vehicle manufacturers are collaborating in developing the International Disposal Information System to fulfill the legal obligations of the End-of-Life Vehicle Manual.
In 2018, the European Commission publishes the Study of ELV Guidance Study with emphasis on end-of-life vehicles where it is unknown. This study shows that every year the existence of 3 to 4 million ELV in the EU is unknown and that the provisions in the ELV Guidelines are not sufficient to monitor the performance of a single Member State for this aspect. This study proposes and assesses a number of options to improve the legal provisions of the ELV Guidelines.
United States
On July 2, 2009 and 55 days into the future, the Car Rebase Reduction System, or "Cash for Clunkers", is a green initiative by the United States Government to stimulate car sales and improve the average fuel economy of United. Union. Many cars were eventually destroyed and recycled to meet the program, and even some exotic cars were destroyed. Finally, because carbon footprints are a concern, some would argue that "Cash for Clunkers" does not reduce much of the owner's carbon footprint. A lot of carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere to make new cars. It is estimated that if a person trades in an 18 mpg clamper for a new 22 mpg car, it will take a typical five and a half-year drive to offset the carbon footprint of a new car. The same amount increased to eight or nine years for those who bought the truck.
If vehicles are left on the sidewalk or on vacant land, licensed dismantling in the United States can legally acquire them so they are safely converted into reusable or recyclable commodities.
Fact
- Passenger cars generally comprise about 65 percent steel and iron, by weight. Also, car bodies are usually made 25 percent of recycled steel.
- Recycling a ton of steel saves 2500 pounds of iron ore, 1400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone.
- About 10 million vehicles are recycled each year.
- Cars are the number one recycling product in the United States.
See also
- Automotive oil recycling
- Transport and the environment
- Automotive shredder residue
References
External links
- End-of-Life Vehicle Page at the European Commission
- End of Life Vehicle Solutions (United States)
- Motor Vehicle Pulling Association (UK) - Vehicle Recycling & amp; environment
- The European Umbrella Association for Automotive Recyclers of the European Automotive Recycling Association
- Romanian Association for Automotive Disposal ANSDAR
- Vehicle Recycling Partnership (United States) - part of United States Council for Automotive Research
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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