----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 1:44
PM
Subject: RE: The original recyclers -
Automotive Salvage
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 |
|
*evaluation model is a compact car, 1500cc class,
1999 model. |
|
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.