Recycling the junk car: a case study of the automobile as a renewable resource
The development and industrial introduction of the auto shredder has made the junked car the most recycled postconsumer product. Historically some 6 to 8 million cars are scrapped annually and about 80 to 85% of these are recycled for their metal and material content. In the past three years, however, it has been estimated that more vehicles were recycled than the number ''retired'' from service. This resulted in a reduction in the national inventory of junk cars. Accordingly, the automobile has become the largest single source of postconsumer steel scrap and more recently has emerged as a major source of secondary zinc supply. The recycling of junk vehicles may represent a model system as to what can be done when favorable economics, industrial technology, available markets, and national and social needs coexist. This paper describes briefly the operation of an auto shredder and the technologies involved in separating and recovering the ferrous, nonferrous, and nonmetallic scrap fractions. Current U.S. vehicles use approximately 185 lb of plastics per vehicle and the volume utilization of plastics is projected to increase at a significant rate. Plastics residues previously have gone into landfill, but the energy and materials resources, landfill availability, and related issues have emphasized the opportunities and desirability for reclaiming these materials. Early results have indicated preliminary feasibility of the reutilization of some of the plastics generated; such reuse of recovered plastic materials may involve direct recycling, conversion to fuels, alternate feedstock material for manufacture of monomers and modified polymers, or direct burning as a heat source. Which form of recycling process will predominate depends upon clean separation technologies, economics of scrap and virgin materials, and materials/energy priorities. Automotive scrap recycling also provides energy recovery advantages as well as materials reutilization.
- Research Organization:
- Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI
- OSTI ID:
- 6486802
- Journal Information:
- Mater. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 1:2; Conference: Symposium on materials and the development of nations: the role of technology, Washington, DC, 28 Apr 1976
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AUTOMOBILES
MATERIALS RECOVERY
RECYCLING
ECONOMICS
PLASTICS
RECOVERY
RENEWABLE RESOURCES
ALUMINIUM
COMBUSTION
CONVERSION
COPPER
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY RECOVERY
GLASS
IRON
MARKET
METALS
RUBBERS
SCRAP
STEELS
WASTE DISPOSAL
ZINC
ALLOYS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELASTOMERS
ELEMENTS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXIDATION
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLYMERS
PROCESSING
RESOURCES
SOLID WASTES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VEHICLES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
290400* - Energy Planning & Policy- Energy Resources
292000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Supply
Demand & Forecasting
320302 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Materials
291000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Conservation