Study compares car component recycling options

Archiv – From the environmental efficiency perspective, mechanical recycling of plastic car components should be favoured only for those large, easily accessible, mono-material parts where a sufficient market exists for the recovered material, according to a study from the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME). From the environmental efficiency perspective, mechanical recycling of plastic car components should be favoured only for those large, easily accessible, mono-material parts where a sufficient market exists for the recovered material, according to a study from the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME). But in most cases, it adds, feedstock recycling and energy recovery are the most environmentally-efficient means of recovering plastics from obsolete cars.
The study by Öko-Institut e.V.Darmstadt sets out quantitative data for comparing recycling and energy recovery options. It features an analysis of the environmental efficiency of six plastics waste management approaches and focuses on the following vehicle components: bumper, seat cushion, intake manifold, wash-liquid tank, air duct, headlamp lens and mirror housing.
Each was analysed in terms of the form of treatment delivering the lowest environmental burden and the lowest cost.
An average car contains 11% plastics by weight, with estimates suggesting that 100 kg of plastics replaces 200-300 kg of alternative materials. Through use of lightweight plastics, a car consumes 1000 litres less fuel during its life-time, it is calculated. According to APME projections, some 1.3 million tonnes of plastics waste will be obtained from 12 million obsolete vehicles by 2015.