Recently, I posted my observation about Car Heaven's website and their method of recycling cars in an environmentally responsible manner. I was annoyed to learn that something called automotive fluff is placed in landfills. Fluff, for those who don't know, is a mixture of non metallic pieces comprising foam, textiles, plastics, rubber and glass. It bothered me because most auto plastics are volatile organic compounds and shouldn't go in the ground at all. I decided to talk to someone at Car Heaven and find out why the plastics couldn't be handled. I'll never be able to accept all those engine blocks and transmissions being chopped up, but that's Car Heaven's mandate so I won't bother with that one.
Ms. Tara Lynn Nava from the Ontario branch of Car Heaven replied and said they've been trying for the seven years to work with the Ontario Automotive Recycling Association to ensure that the vehicle donated to Car Heaven are responsibly handled. Currently there is no infrastructure in Canada that supports the separation and waste management of fluff content.
I did research on the web and learned that ABS and polypropylene plastic not only can be recycled, they have ready, paying markets. It's unfortunate Car Heaven has been working at this problem from one angle. It seems to me the next step would be to examine the way interior and glass components are handled by the salvage yard operator to avoid contamination. Then the plastics can be dealt with by a plastic recycling specialist to properly handle this waste which is in fact,a commodity. Several plastic recyclers list ABS and polypropylenes as plastics they're in need of and one sold 40,000 tonnes of ABS to Ohio in one month. They're searching for more! A plastics manufacturer would not only be able to advise them how to set up a good system for recycling, they could also keep them in the loop about new polymers that need to be handled differently such as the talc enriched door panels being used in the UK. Car Heaven has succesfully managed a relationship with GM and OARA. The next step should close the circle and get the plastics out of the earth for good.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
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