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Some
interesting numbers. But I'll assume that the 84% by weight figure for
automobile recycling mainly applies to melting down all of the metal and
recasting. Is there any info as to what percentage of parts are reusable versus
the percentage of parts that are actually reused? Say, out of 100
alternators removed from junked cars, do 10, 50, or 90 find direct
reuse?
And
why just target the OEM for repair sales? If Detroit were to
standardize the design of basic parts then you could reuse the parts in the
production of new cars. The trick would be to have an extensive
refurbishment and test program so that one could provide warranties on the
recycled parts. This will add some costs to the recycled parts, but the overall
benefit is still there.
I
think that the main objection to closing the loop is that business always has
this grow or die mentality. Detroit is looking for a bailout while they will
still sell a million cars this year (ok, don't quote me on this figure but even
a 50% drop in sales means that they are still selling a lot of cars). And
if you apply the concept of sustainability, then they should be able to turn a
profit even when sales equal the natural replacement rate
without growth. If you can't do that, you're not sustainable. Okay,
enough soap box.
-----Original Message-----
From:
owner-p2tech@great-lakes.net [mailto:owner-p2tech@great-lakes.net]On Behalf
Of Sue Schauls
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 8:49
AM
To: P2 Region 7; p2tech@great-lakes.net
Subject: The
original recyclers - Automotive Salvage
The Automotive Recyclers Association recently
copyrighted the phrase "the original recycler" since the auto parts
recycling industry has a history as long as auto manufacturing. ARA was recently
compelled to contact our US Legislative body. It seems that the
automaker do not want to embrace auto salvage in their restructuring plans
to receive federal aid. It's shocking that the manufacturing of
new OEM parts do not want recycled parts to be resold. Their own self interest
could damage the largest recycling market in existance. This is an
ongoing issue in the auto recylcling industry - for years the OEM's
have kept secret the knowledge of interchangeable parts from make, model &
year vehicles to stimulate the sale of new OEM parts when recycled parts exist
in the market.
From ARA correspondence to Sen. Maj. Leader Harry
Reid:
"At present, recycled auto parts are competing
against a new OEM auto parts industry that
commands some 70-80% of the
collision and mechanical repair parts market. However, educated consumers
embrace “recycled” auto parts usage because of the benefits to the environment
along with their substantial consumer savings in reduced repair costs and
lower insurance premiums. Not to mention, these quality “green” auto parts
meet the performance, safety, fit and durability standards of the
OEM.
Misleading the American consumer about green auto
recycling has serious environmental
consequences. Reuse is the most
efficient form of recycling. It reuses an existing resource and
saves all
the original resources and energy that would have to go into making that new
part. The
carbon dioxide reductions for each recycled part reused is
substantial. However, millions of
potentially “green” recycled parts remain
unused in today’s motor vehicle repair economy
wasting millions of
countless natural resources in the process.
Our concerns, however, are that the automobile
continue to be most recycled consumer
product in the world. Currently, the
automobile is the number one recycled consumer product in
the world — 95
percent of all end-of-life vehicles in the U.S. go through a
market-driven
recycling infrastructure with no added costs or taxes to the
consumer, with 84 percent by weight of each vehicle recycled. The rate far
exceeds the numbers for recycling titans such as
newspaper (74 percent),
aluminum cans (51 percent) and glass (22 percent). This saves valuable global
resources and has a great impact on keeping contaminants and hazardous
materials out of landfills, water, and air. In fact, every motor vehicle that
is recycled through the scrap process saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400
pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone. As well, the steel from six
end-of-life vehicles is all that is needed to frame a 2000-square-foot home.
The alternative is to cut down 40 to 50 trees."
Measurement data provided also included a study
of a 1999 compact car and the carbon emission saved by the salvage and reuse
of the parts, available in Excel.
| |
Parts |
Quantity of
carbon dioxide
reduction (kg) |
| engine unit |
cylinder head |
28.3 |
| radiator |
58.8 |
| fuel injector |
8.2 |
| throttle chamber |
8.2 |
| carburetor |
8.2 |
| engine |
261.0 |
chassis
unit |
steel hubcap |
21.3 |
| aluminium hubcap |
7.4 |
| differential gear |
34.4 |
| rear suspension |
47.6 |
| front suspension |
45.1 |
| brake shoe |
1.8 |
| rear brake |
24.3 |
| front brake |
34.6 |
| power steering |
18.1 |
| power steering pump |
48.1 |
| driving shaft |
13.6 |
| automatic transmission |
179.0 |
| manual transmission |
89.7 |
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*evaluation model is a compact car, 1500cc class, 1999
model. |
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OH The power of GOOD MEASUREMENT - let's hope it
helps! please let me know if you want the email
forwarded to you - it also includes the position statements the
Automakers wrote on why they do not want recycled parts in the
market.
Sue Schauls Consulting
(Environmentalist for the Iowa Automotive
Recyclers)
2214 Regal Ave
Waterloo, Iowa 50702
319/233-7970 Home
office/fax
319/290-7843 Cell
NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.
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