U.S. CAR Vehicle Recycling Partnership
Presented by:
Terry Cullum, General Motors Corporation
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Name and Description of Project:
The Vehicle RecycIing Partnership (VRP) is one of twelve cwsurtia between Chryslot, Ford and
G M under the United States Coiincil of Automotive Research (WSCAR). The VRP is a precompctftlve coasonIum that was eshblislicd in 1991. The VRl' is stntoturcd ro involve ths
domedic automotive manufacturers and "upstream" suppliers with the major actors in the
udownstrea"' vehicle recycling inhtructure in a collaborative framework.
The restarch facility ofthc VKP is the Vehicle Recycling Development Center (VRDC) whidi is
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d in Highland Park, Michipn and operated by Automotive Dismantling ,Services (ADS).
The center is funded and stafftxf with technical personnel from Chryslm, Ford, and Gcncral
M o m . The automotive vehicle dinmantling center was established in 1993 to support research
and development efforts by thc: doinetic big thrcc automotive manufboturots in the m a of
vchicle dimmtling and recycling.
Projd Drivers;
The current vehicle recycling iahstnzliire prcesses 95%of all vehicles that are removed'from
service. This s u w ~ d u lmarket
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driven, infiastructurc wnsists of the consumer, automotive
dimantler. the automotive shredder, materials reprocessors and the municipal solid w e
landfill. Other acton arc tho automotive manufacturer and the automotive supply chain. On
average, 75% of a vehicle by weight is recycled. This represents the ferrous and nun-kmus
content of the vehiole. The romainitlg 25%ofthc vehicle is currently Inndfilled. This fmction of
the vchicle is referred to as automotive shredder midue (ASR) and is mprisod primarily of
platier, rubber, fluids, and glass. ASR comprises 1.5% of municipal solid waste in the United
States. A main drivcr UT the VRP is to support and further dcvclop economical recycling
technologiesto reduce the contribution of automotive shredder residue to municipal solid waste
landfills. This approach is design& to continue the sustainability of the aarket driven vebicie
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infrastructure
C I ~ ~ while reducing the environmental impact of end of llft vehicles.
Project Participqts:
Tbm are s e ~ a t w project
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participants that are involved with nsearch at the VRDC and at other
locationsthat support the sctivitics of the center. Tho VRP works in collaboration with lkc main
acton in the vehick recycling iofrastruchlre and with the upsrnam supply chain Ihcr~Feprcsents
the largest oonttibution of material to automotive shredder msidiie. Formal callabarative
agreements are in place between the VRP and;
The American Plastics Council
Automotive Recyclers Association
Lsmtilute of Scrap Recycling Industries
A colhborativo qroomsnt i s in process with the Aluminum Aswiation. In addition to fonal
collaborative agzwments, the VRP suppom vehicle recycling rcxarth at tbc fo!lowing
institutions;
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Univcrslty of Deuoft-Mercy
Michiga Molaciilar Tndhte
Carrregie Mcllon University
National Rewatch Council of Canada
Univoraity of Florida-Tamp
Michigsn 'I'echnologicalUniversity
Geurgia Institute of Technology
Michael Biddk Associaks
University of Windsor
Massachusetts Snstitutc of Technology
Phillips Environmental
In addition to thc above institutions, a pilot pyrolysis unil is being built at an automotive
shredder to demonstratethe viability ofthe technology.
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The VRP also jaincd with the American Plastics Council in a Cooperative Research and
DevclopmeJiL Agrtcmcnt (CRADA, C9201501) with Argome National Laboratories. Thi&
CRADA involves the development of technoloflies to providc for the ef%ctive recycling of scrap
automobilcs. The soope of tho research includes:
the cxmination of the i s m s and factors which prevent total mycling of scrap vehicles
identification of desirable but undwelopcd or unavailable technology which, if succassfhlly
developed and implemented, would &lo recycling of currcntly non-recycld components
of scrap cam,
development of separation tcchnologies to rmver materials and rcwufces from rrutomotivc
shreddar residue (ASR),
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oxemination of options for design modifications which could provide for more efkctive
disassembly ofcomponcmta for recycling,
examination of pltcrnntive materials to increase matcrialo recycling.
ProJectGoak
The VRP develop' n~issionstatements to dcscribc thc priorities ofthc working group thai
formed to address specific areas ;a the vehicle recycling infrastructure.
VRP MISSION
The mission of the Vehicle Recycling Partnership is w develop, implcmcnt, and communide
r e m h and pre-competitive pilot programs. which promote an integrated approach to the
handling of End of Life %'chicles,with technical and economic effjciency, in North America for
the Global marketplace.
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DISASSEMBLY WORKTNG GROUP
To enable the efficient disassembly of c c x n w f"vehicles that have value for muse, to
rccuvcr vduable matcrials fbr recycling, and to m o v e potentially harmful materials prior to
hecoming auto shredder residue.
SHKEUDER RESlDUB WORKING GROUP
To d u c t the tord envlronmentd i~upactof auto shredder twiduc through socially reaponsiblo,
economically achievable wlutions such as ftsourcc rccovcry and secondary uses.
DESIGN GUIDELINES WORKING CiROUP
To develop material selection and deslgn guidelinesto facflitatc w w ,recycling, or mlsmation
of materials and componeats from post-consumer vehicles.
Vie VRP cstablishd enabling tdtnologieato guide moarcb aid development effom of the
VRP working groups.
REDUCl5
Reduction in demand for natural ~ r s o u w .
Elimination or reduction of contaminants in automobile waste.
R*duA-ni of thc quantity ofnon-rcoycloble waste going to landfills.
Design for Gfficient asaembly/disassombly
Usc of materials that retain value (corrosion and damage mirml).
Efficient and environmentallysound scrviceahihty of camponents.
RECYCLE
Materials d i n g methods and tecognition sensors.
E f l l c l ~and
t mvirucii~iailtallysound shrcddcrs, rcfincn, and
rejuvenators.
Davclopmcnt of infrastructure and markcts for recycled materials.
RECLAIM
Recovery of valuable additives. chemicals, and energy.
Devclopment of markets for rec&mcd "trials.
Reduction of undesirable landfilling of automotive residue.
Ucncfits oftho projuot include:
A sustainable market driven vehkle recycling infktructurc
Rcduction of solid waste fwvieed of lifc vehicles
Reduction ofsiihstances of concern from cnd of life vehicles
Patenrial for creation of jobs to support thc expanding vehicle recycling infrastructure
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Projecl ObatacWBarrier8:
The cumnt vohiclc mycling infiesbructuro is set up to recover metals. The recovery of nonmetallic matcrids requires a different approach than metals renwty. 1\ is CliFftcultto interest
the current infrastructure in materials that an unfamiliarand therefore have uncertain profit
potential. A major issuc iv whether non-mctallic materials arc rcmovcd fiom the vehicle prior to
going to thc automotive shdder or if the materials have any value after processing by the
studdec. The VRP supports wscareh into both of tbsw xmntuios to determine the leChological
and economic barriers to recovering these materials.
Project Reviews:
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Quarterly pject reviews arc conducted with all VRP collaborators Io evaluate technical prujwts
and discuss strategy for the VRP. Annual workshops arc held with the international vehicle
recycling community to share technologiesand discuss regional vehir;lc: bad of life policics. The
VRP rscantly contracted with a consultant to pmvide a third party view of the accomplishments
of the VRP and to assist in k developmcnt of a five year bus~ncaaplan.
'I'myCullum
tiM Alternate on the VRP Manupmcnr Conirnitta
h i t ofthe VRP Crnnmunications Group
Cbaiisoft l Amcrican
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Automobile Manufacturers Vehiole Reoyoling
TaJkGmp
T d q h o n #:
~ (313) 556-7826
Iw Poston
Chir of the VRP
OM Member on the VRP M m y p " ) t C m m b
Telephone # (8 10) 947-0700
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