It is reported that research at the University of Windsor may eventually lead to more than 90% of a vehicle being recycled, including plastic components that now go to landfills.

Dr Edwin Tam professor of environmental and automotive engineering, engineer Mr Susan Sawyer Beaulieu and PhD candidate Mr Noor A Faiza Barsha are part of a national research project working to increase the amount of recyclable materials in vehicles by using a cradle to grave approach.

Currently, about 80% of a vehicle's parts are recycled. Breaking down the various plastic components remains a challenge because different polymers are bonded together during the manufacturing process. By looking at how parts are designed, fabricated, removed and recycled, Tam and his team hope to learn how vehicle disposal can be enhanced.

Dr Tam said that "Since a high percentage of a vehicle can be recycled, people often assume the process is similar to their home's blue box, where materials are from much simpler products that are often distinct from one another. This isn't necessarily the case with complex things like cars."

Mr Sawyer Beaulieu said that "By and large the salvage industry does a very good job as a whole, and the more commercially viable we can make the process, the better they will do in the future."

Dr Tam said that producing vehicles that are more easily recyclable may not add more cost to the manufacturing process because you might be adding a design step in the process but not necessarily a manufacturing step. Instead of using rivets and glue to hold parts together, you might use clips, which could be more easily separated.

Using a process called life cycle assessment, Dr Tam and his team hope to determine how to deal with these leftovers in a more environmentally friendly manner.

Dr Tam said that the conceptual goal is to recycle 100% of every vehicle but warns that's neither possible nor commercially viable. He added that "But we still believe there is more we can do to reduce the impact scrap vehicles have on the environment."

(Sourced from Edmonton Journal)