Despite earning a negative reputation for contributing to global pollution, the auto industry is making great strides in reducing its environmental footprint. From distributors and manufacturers to retailers and repair shops, a stark focus in placed on recycling used parts, such as batteries and oil filters; chemicals, including cleaning solvents, and A/C refrigerant; and cargo waste materials, such as wood pallets, pipes, and jacks.
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) recently developed a new initiative to recognize the contributions of the industry in helping the environment. The initiative, entitled ?Driving Toward a Cleaner Environment: The Automotive Aftermarket?s Green Story,? emphasizes how the auto aftermarket industry keeps cars properly maintained and more fuel efficient. The initiative also notes that 96 percent of repair shops report regularly recycling scrap metal from damaged automotive components, such as transmissions, alternators, engines, and brakes. (See video below).
Industry-wide, recycling efforts have saved 163.1 million pounds of steel and iron, 10.4 million pounds of aluminum, and nearly 4 million pounds of copper from wasting away in landfills, reports the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI). The additional impact on the environment is far-reaching because each upcycled ton of steel also saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone. Additionally, recycling versus harvesting these raw materials reduces energy consumption by more than 90 percent.
?Scrap metal recycling has an extremely positive impact on our environment,? notes Rich White, senior vice president of AAIA, which represents more than 23,000 members and 100,000 parts suppliers, repair shops and distributors. ?It conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, saves energy, and minimizes the amount of waste sent to landfills.?
The automotive recycling industry also generates more than $22 billion each year in sales, according to the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA). Auto salvagers, who specialize in scraping and parting out retired vehicles, are responsible for processing nearly 95 percent of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and buses taken off the road each year. Operating under strict regulations, salvage companies single-handedly save nearly 85 million oil barrels that would be needed to manufacture new and replacement parts.
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