The Recycle for Cornwall campaign has been developed to raise public awareness of recycling and to provide consumers with a compelling reason to recycle.
We are all aware of the negative impact that driving a car can have on the environment which can be reduced by making less car journeys, opting for sustainable transport or perhaps by using Bio diesel. However, car manufacturers have also been working on minimising the environmental impact vehicles have from a waste point of view.
The End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive introduced in 2000 required production companies to take on some of the costs of recycling, and in 2007 they will need to provide for the recycling costs of all cars. They are also required to promote the recyclability of new cars, and reduce the use of hazardous materials.
In some instances this might involve making design modifications to ease the dismantling of the car to enable materials to be recycled easily. For example, Volkswagen have been designed a dashboard built for complete removal and have stopped using adhesives which might contaminate the plastic in favour of plastic clips.
Production companies are also aiming to reduce degradation of materials in order that they can be recycled and used for the same purpose when a vehicle is taken off the road. The BMW groups now use standardised plastic for their instrument panels to reduce degradation.
The ELV Directive followed a drop in scrap prices leading to motorists having to pay for the collection of their vehicles and a subsequent increase in illegally disposed cars. Around 2 million vehicles reach the end of their life in the UK each year and about 74 – 80% of the weight of an end of life vehicle is currently recycled.
As well as ensuring new cars are recyclable, manufacturers are also striving to ensure that recycled materials are used in the production process. New tyres can be built with 10% recycled rubber content and recycled rubber from tyres is also used in mud flaps and floor mats. Mazda have introduced a bumper recycling program which uses damaged bumpers to make new ones. General Motors uses post consumer waste and automotive recycled materials and in the 2004 Saturn Vue model 435,909 kgs of post-industrial recycled materials were incorporated into the wheel-house mounts. Aluminium and Steel from cars is also recycled and recycled in new car bodies.
In Cornwall it is possible to recycle motor oil which is used again as fuel. Work is underway to use recycled motor oil as engine lubrication though this involves increased refining.
Car tyres can also be recycled and in Cornwall are used to make rubber crumb for playground and path surfaces or as garden mulch.
Car batteries are also able to be recycled and are separated into individual components and used in various new products. To find out how to recycle these items visit our Materials Finder.
If your car has come to the end of its life take it to a licensed scrap yard where it will be recycled and disposed of properly.
As well as ensuring new cars are recyclable, manufacturers are also striving to ensure that recycled materials are used in the production process. New tyres can be built with 10% recycled rubber content and recycled rubber from tyres is also used in mud flaps and floor mats. Mazda have introduced a bumper recycling program which uses damaged bumpers to make new ones. General Motors uses post consumer waste and automotive recycled materials and in the 2004 Saturn Vue model 435,909 kgs of post-industrial recycled materials were incorporated into the wheel-house mounts. Aluminium and Steel from cars is also recycled and recycled in new car bodies.
Malcolm Drew Ltd.