Car recycling is gaining momentum in the UK. As public awareness increases more and more people are taking advantage of using an ethical company that works in line with the European ELV Directive. However it is not just the motorist who must take the initiative, the manufacturers who create the vehicles and the government must also be more pro-active. Here we look at what a few of these are doing to ensure a greener future for us all.
Meet the manufacturers
Nearly all-mainstream manufacturers now have some sort of policies in place created to ensure the manufacturing process considers the recycling process as well. Quite often the recycling process is a large consideration all through the design process, when decisions on the types of materials used are being made. Ford vehicles are now produced to be at least 85% recyclable. (Ford scrap vehicles are the most scrapped out of any manuracturer, due to the volume of cars sold in the UK)
VAG (VW Audi Group), Volvo, BMW, Ford/Jaguar, Fiat, Mercedes Benz, Vauxhall and PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) approximately account for 75% of all new cars appearing on UK roads. With massive resources at their disposal it is only right they put these resources to use in helping build a sustainable future.
There are still problem areas
Despite the efforts of these manufacturers, government and independent companies such as National Scrap Car, there are still some areas of recycling where we fall short. Only 10% of current tyre waste is recycled. 40% goes to landfill or are illegally dumped.
This means that out of the 30-35 million waste tyres produced in the UK each year only approximately between 3 and 3.5 million of them are recycled, whilst 14 million of them are damaging our environment by going to landfill.
How are these being addressed
Tyre manufacturers are well aware of the future problems this could create. They are constantly investing in new technologies and looking at new ways to incorporate old rubber into the new tyres they produce. At the same time they are trying to refine their current ranges so the tyres produced are more hard wearing, meaning new tyres are needed less frequently. People are coming up with inventive and creative ways to use recycled rubber, from floor coverings to paint. The recycling motto of Re-use, Recycle, Recover is being utilised to it’s fullest. However, currently none of these efforts provide a viable solution to dealing with all of the rubber being produced. Maybe there is no single solution. If all of these take a small amount away from the tyres ending up in landfill it’s a good thing, we just need more innovators to come up with new ways to use even more of the old tyres, and hopefully together we can eat away at the 40% figure until no tyres are going to landfill.
If you want to ensure your ELV (end of life vehicle) is disposed of in the manner that is best for the environment, your pocket, and the local economy, then using an ethical company such as National Scrap Car is a brilliant way to do it. Why not contact us for a no obligation quote or a friendly chat, we are always happy to help.