| GRN Recycle Talk FAQ Answer |
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 98 14:33 WET From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman) Subject: Re: Recycling in autos (Mark Harings)
Nov 3, 1998
Dear Mark Harings,
>From 1990-1995 there were about 22kg to 38kg of polyproplene in each American made auto
Under the hood plastics include nylon and polyethylene, and interior plastics include ABS and polystyrenes as well.. It is difficult to find out precisely how much of each is used in what vehicles from the general literature. For example, I found out that Ford's heavy truck s have 450 lbs of SMC plastics in 1997, reportedly the highest amount of plastics in any vehicle.
I think that the safest thing for me to do is to refer you to those who have been conducting research in using recycled materials in autos and in auto parts:
Society of Automotive Engineers. They hold an annual conference that is a good source of recycling technical data.
The SMC Automotive Alliance, a part of the Society of the Plastics Industry (which may not exist anymore under that name). However, 5 years ago, their telephone number was 202-371-5200.
The American Plastics Council.
The Vehicle Recycling Partnership (of the Big 3 automakers) can be contacted through their website or through the Great Lakes Institute for Recycling Markets, Ann Arbor, MI, tel: 313-996-8845.
The Great Lakes Center put out a report on rrecycling markets for autos including plastics which concludes: a limited number of potential customers exist for polyolefins, TPO, polycarbonate, ABS, and other high-end plastics. However, they do answwer your question for what they call a Typical Family Vehicle :
Polyurethane Seat Foam: 24 lbs per car
Polypropylene: 34 lbs per car
ABS: 20 lbs
Nylon: 16 lbs.
Polycarbonate: 7 lbs
Perhaps then what you will want is the source of this:
Auto recycling Demonstration Project: Final Report , January 23, 1998 by the Great Lakes Institute for Recycling Markets prepared under contract to The Michigan DEQ, P2 Section, Environmental Assistance Division, PO Box 30457, Lansing, MI 48909. It was funded, I should note, with a US EPA Jobs Through Recycling Grant.
- Research Library for RCRA