An Analysis of the Vehicle End-of-Life in the United States

Significant improvements in end-of-life complex product recovery can be accomplished when recovery aspects are better integrated at the design stage of products. This paper introduces a new method that should allow design teams to produce better recovery-conscious designs, i.e. to integrate the complexity and the variability of recovery routes and to make recoverability more tangible to designers. The main methodological aspects of the new method are presented based on an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of existing methods. In particular, the original multiprocess modelling of recovery scenarios and the original quantitative, multicriteria and multiscenario assessment of the recoverability of a product are detailed. On the basis of the assessment results, a design team is able to suggest design improvements. The implementation of the new method is simulated in real industrial practice. It is shown how the use of the method can bring significant gains in the product's recoverability. Assets and drawbacks of the method are discussed.

show abstract

“…Refs. [5,30]). This has been made concrete for example in the proposal for calculation of recoverability indicators for automotive vehicles [31].…”

Section: Recovery Processes Consideredmentioning

confidence: 99%

ReSICLED: a new recovery-conscious design method for complex products based on a multicriteria assessment of the recoverability

Mathieux

Frœlich

Morand

2008

Journal of Cleaner Production

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Automobiles are perhaps the most recycled product in the world, with about 95% of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) entering the recycling stream in the U.S. (about 75% of the mass of each vehicle, mostly ferrous content, is recovered) [Cobas-Flores et al, 1998]. However, 25% of the solid waste (i.e., Automotive Shredder Residue, ASR) is generally landfilled.…”

Section: Automobilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards Sustainable “Product and Material Flow” Cycles: Identifying Barriers to Achieving Product Multi-Use and Zero Waste

Kumar

Bee

Shirodkar

et al. 2005

Energy Conversion and Resources

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Material and energy resource consumption is on the rise in both the industrialized and developing world (e.g., countries like India and China). In order to sustain this growth and provide resources for future generations, there is a need to design products that are easy to recover and recondition, thus enabling multiple use cycles. Processes are needed that can achieve this multi-use while producing zero (or very near zero) waste. There exist a number of barriers and challenges to achieving this vision of multi-use with zero waste; one such challenge is the development of a product recovery infrastructure that will minimize short-term impacts due to existing products and will be robust enough to recover products of the future. This paper identifies the barriers to developing such a recovery and reuse infrastructure. The aim is to achieve product multi-use and zero waste.

show abstract

“…The automobile is one of the most highly recycled consumer products. About 95% of retired cars enter the recycling system, and approximately 75% of each car in the system is recycled [30]. In spite of these seemingly large rates, the post-use stage of the vehicle life cycle still generates a significant amount of solid waste in the US (roughly 300 kg/vehicle) [7].…”

Section: Post-use Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A global perspective on the environmental challenges facing the automotive industry: state-of-the-art and directions for the future

Sutherland

Gunter

Allen

et al. 2004

IJVD

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

With support from the US National Science Foundation and Department of Energy, a global benchmarking study of the status of Environmentally Benign Manufacturing (EBM) has recently been completed. The study [1], completed under the aegis of the World Technology Evaluation Center at Loyola College in Maryland, gathered information on research and development around the world aimed at developing alternative methods for materials processing with the purpose of minimizing toxic material generation and optimizing products and by-products for sustainability and reuse characteristics. The study reviewed the current status of EBM research, development, and applications in the United States, Japan, and Europe with a view towards evaluating the competitive status of US efforts. Information was acquired from the technical literature as well as through visits to industry, national laboratories, universities, etc. One area of focus within the study was the automotive industry. This paper summarizes many of the key findings from the global benchmarking study that relate to the automotive industry and identifies areas that require attention for the future.

show abstract

An Analysis of the Vehicle End-of-Life in the United States

Cited by 9 publications

References 1 publication

ReSICLED: a new recovery-conscious design method for complex products based on a multicriteria assessment of the recoverability

ReSICLED: a new recovery-conscious design method for complex products based on a multicriteria assessment of the recoverability

Towards Sustainable “Product and Material Flow” Cycles: Identifying Barriers to Achieving Product Multi-Use and Zero Waste

A global perspective on the environmental challenges facing the automotive industry: state-of-the-art and directions for the future

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About