Automobiles are an important part of our lives. They provide us mobility and have been instrumental in how our communities develop, where we work, and how we live. Many Michigan residents and businesses rely on the automobile manufacturing industry for their livelihood. When automobiles have outlived their usefulness, the majority (over 94%) are taken to scrap yards for reclamation of useable parts. What is left is shredded or compacted. This remaining material, consisting primarily of metals, is then recycled back into appliances, automobiles, and other products. Over 75% of each automobile is recovered this way. That still leaves over 3 million tons of material to be disposed of annually.

Automobile Recycling Demonstration Project:
In 1996, the State of Michigan received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Jobs Through Recycling Program to look at ways to recover that waste. A study was undertaken by the Great Lakes Institute for Recycling Markets to see what materials could be recovered in the scrap yard setting (before shredding or compaction) that had potential market value. A number of materials were investigated with some promising results. Polyurethane seat foam, windshield glass and rubberized seals are a few materials that hold promise for being recycled.

The final report for this project is available in pdf format. Please note that this report is over 140 pages if you choose to print it.

Automobile Recycling Demonstration Project, Final Report

• Appendix A: Plastic Quantities After Bruker-sorting
• Appendix B: Plastic Quantities After Decontamination
• Appendix C: Sample markets Database Entry Form
• Appendix D: Market Contacts Expressing interest in Receiving Material Samples
• Appendix E: Sample Tracking Form
• Appendix F: Market Evaluation Form
• Appendix G: End-market Customers: Material Evaluations and Requirements
• Appendix H: Targeted Material Benchmarks: Estimated Costs and Revenue
• Appendix I: Vehicle Dismantler Pro-Forma

OTHER DEQ AUTOMOTIVE PROJECTS

MDEQ Fact Sheet: Guide for Salvage Yard Owners. This guide contains important information about how a salvage yard owner can decrease the regulatory liability of their facility by making informed management choices for handling tires, oils, antifreeze, and other materials inherent in the salvage yard industry.

Michigan Automotive Pollution Prevention Project: Recycling and managing potentially hazardous materials are not the first steps in preventing pollution. Michigan automobile manufacturers recognize this and for many years have been involved in pollution prevention efforts. To learn more about these efforts click here for information about the Michigan Automotive Pollution Prevention Project (Auto Project) . The Auto Project is a voluntary pollution prevention and resource conservation partnership between Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, General Motors (Auto Companies), and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

OTHER AUTOMOBILE RECYCLING INFORMATION

For other automobile recycling information, see the following list. The Environmental Assistance Division does not endorse or support any of the information or entity included on the following websites. This information is provided for assisting you in learning more about automobile recycling.

AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLING SITES

• Automotive Recyclers Association. National trade association for automobile recyclers and dismantlers.
• Automotive Recyclers of Michigan (ARM). Michigan trade association for automobile recyclers and dismantlers.
• Green Car: A Guide to Cleaner Vehicle Production, Use, and Disposal. Site is sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund.

• International Automobile Recycling Congress, March 12-14, 2003, Geneva, Switzerland.

• The United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR). This organization was formed by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors to "strengthen the technology base of the domestic auto industry through cooperative, pre-competitive research." One important aspect of this effort is research to improve the recyclability of scrapped automobiles.

• US EPA -Automotive Sector: Assistance and Inspection Publications. This website includes links to useful information for automobile recycling facilities and state regulatory agencies including a July 2003 "Model State Compliance Assurance Program Guide for Auto Recycling Facilities."

• U.S. EPA Region 9: "Pollution Prevention for Auto Repair and Fleet Maintenance." This pollution prevention toolkit provides detailed information on alternatives for the most common shop wastes.