Carmakers step up their commitment to vehicle recycling with Rewarding Recycling
Car manufacturers including Toyota and Vauxhall have introduced pioneering new schemes for car owners to recycle their end-of-life vehicles (ELV). The Rewarding Recycling scheme, run by vehicle disposal expert Autogreen, offers motorists an opportunity to dispose of their vehicle in an environmentally sound manner. It is also helping manufacturers to increase their vehicle recycling rates ahead of the 2015 EU ELV target, which requires 95% of a vehicle to be reused, recycled or recovered (with a minimum of 85% to be recycled).
Motorists simply visit the Rewarding Recycling website, type in their registration and postcode and receive an instant quote. They can either take their vehicle to their preferred dealership, or it can be collected from their home, for free. Some manufacturers, such as Toyota, are also inviting owners to obtain a quote via their own websites. Once the vehicle has been handed over, the owner receives a PIN number to enter online, which generates a secure payment of the sum agreed, direct to their bank account.
The vehicle itself is collected for final disposal by Autogreen. The company dismantles it in line with UK and European standards, recovering reusable and recyclable materials and parts, and disposing of any waste responsibly. The steel is then shared with steel recycler EMR, while the automotive shredder residue (ASR) waste is currently shared with MBA Polymers for recycling. In future, non-plastics waste will be processed via a gasification plant. Autogreen has processed nearly 40,000 cars since October 2012.
“The Rewarding Recycling scheme provides a tangible, structured process for the disposal of end-of-life vehicles,” says Nigel Hunton, CEO, MBA Polymers. “This is exactly the type of scheme that’s need to boost vehicle recycling rates in the UK. It provides vehicle manufacturers with an opportunity to engage their customers in responsible recycling and assists with their own efforts to comply with European legislation and drive progress on sustainability.”
Autogreen is the approved vehicle disposal partner to numerous vehicle manufacturers, including BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Suzuki, Toyota and Vauxhall. Participating in the scheme is helping carmakers to meet their sustainability goals and adopt a responsible approach to the product life cycle of their cars, from design concept to end-of-life recycling. It also offers an opportunity for car dealerships to engage positively with customers and build relationships.
“We’re increasingly seeing global car manufacturers step up and take more responsibility for the recycling of end-of-life vehicles,” says Paul Hillier, Director, Autogreen. “It’s a very encouraging trend and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with MBA Polymers to ensure that ASR waste can be accurately separated and safely recycled.”
For more on the Rewarding Recycling scheme, click here.