Recycling autos
The 11th Asian Automotive Environmental Forum delved upon the endof-life journey of an automobile.
The 11th Asian Automotive Environmental Forum delved upon the end-of-life journey of an automobile.
Held with a theme, ‘Automotive Recycling in India: Pathway to the Future - Towards a Sustainable Society’, the 11th Asian Automotive Environmental Forum (AAEF) saw the stakeholders and leaders of the Indian automotive industry come together to delve upon the endof-life journey of an automobile. SIAM, in collaboration with the Japan Automotive Recyclers Alliance (JARA), organised the event in India for the first time. Attracting more than 150 delegates from China, Japan, USA, India and other countries, the conference focused on setting-up a viable infrastructure for the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) journey of automobiles. It also looked at developing solutions to handle ELVs in India with experts from across the globe, government representatives and key stakeholders sharing their experience and knowledge in the area of vehicle recycling. Expressed Sosho Kitajima, MD, NPO JARA, that the AAEF will become a big platform for relevant industry bodies across Asia to exchange latest vehicle disposal techniques in the interest of building a sustainable future.
Setting the tone for the event, Yu Jeong Soo (Ph D), Professor, Tohoku University, emphasised on responsible recycling and sustainable development. He mentioned the need to create a viable infrastructure, and to facilitate automakers with solutions to deal with ELVs in India. Echoing Soo’s sentiments about the need to facilitate automakers with solutions to deal with ELVs was critical, Sanjay Mehta, President, Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), said that the rate of recycling in India in comparison to that in developed countries is less. He stressed upon the need to look at the process such that it would amount to conversion of waste to wealth. “The recycling sector is highly unorganised and informal,” mentioned Mehta. Stressing upon the need to enhance safety and health risks, lack of recycling zones, lack of scrap collection and sorting facilities, inadequate structures at ports, lack of trained manpower and inadequate logistics, he expressed. “Our vision is to make India a zero waste country by developing circular economy parks.” “Metal recycling industry in India employs nearly 1.9 million people and has the potential to contribute around five per cent to the country’s GDP,” added Mehta.
In view of the need to promote scrapping and recycling, PK Banerjee, Executive Director (Tech), SIAM, said that recycling is essential for sustainable mobility in the future. “Vehicle Scrappage policy is underway,” he informed. Opining that there is a need to increase awareness about vehicle recycling concept amongst the masses, Banerjee spoke about the need to encourage private companies to set up stockyards. Expressed Captain N S Mohan Ram, Advisor, TVS Motors & Chairman, SIAM
Recycling Group, that there is nothing called scrap. It is a wasted opportunity instead, he said. Pointing at how SIAM was acting upon the ELV journey of a vehicle, Captain Ram averred that the challenges for this section of the automotive industry to operate were inadequate space in crowded areas, poor storage of parts, being technologically handicapped, lack of funds and capacity. He mentioned, “We are the fastest growing economy in the world and have a huge consumer base and demand for mobility. Due to the lack of ELV recycling procedures and infrastructure, however, there is a big mismatch. As one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of vehicles, we need to look at ways to dispose of vehicles in an environmentally feasible manner; in a manner that is socially acceptable and economically viable.”
Mentioning that the ground situation concerning vehicle recycling in contrast to the growth of the Indian automobile industry was not good in India, and needed immediate attention, Sujeet Samaddar, Senior Consultant, NITI Aayog, averred, “The kind of vehicles that will be recycled hereafter will have unique qualities. This would
have an effect on their recycling capabilities.” Pointing at India ranking 77th globally in ‘Ease of Doing Business’, Samaddar stated that this would encourage global companies to set up advanced automotive recycling plants in the country. “The ‘Ease of Doing Business’ ranking will set the tone for investments,” he opined. Expressing the need to encourage recycling for the big social impact it is capable of, Samaddar mentioned that it would also offer an opportunity to many to set up ELV infrastructure and effectively run it.
Providing a platform for automotive recycling industry stakeholders from across the world an opportunity to air their views and knowledge, the event turned out to be successful. The reflection of success was had in them unanimously expressing the need to reduce dependence on a single technology, and focus instead on various forms of automotive recycling technologies and methods. In view of the situation in India, the recycling experts and industry stakeholders from India opined that it was crucial to have a robust recycling structure in place. They also urged the government to ensure fast
redressal of issues related to vehicle recycling in the country. They also spoke about the need to frame a comprehensive policy roadmap and implement it.
India
Highlighting the fundamentals of a vehicle scrappage policy, Rashmi Urdhwareshe, Director, ARAI, said, “The government initiatives and the upcoming policy on scrapping of vehicles will enhance the scope of ELV regulations, fleet modernization schemes, encouraging voluntary scrappage of vehicles, establishing automated I&C centres to exercise scientific control through annual fitness tests, controlling illegitimate scrappage of (stolen, crime and accident) vehicles and conveniently setting up dismantling and disposal centres.” The rot of the unorganised side of the sector goes deep as data reporting of scrapped vehicles is flawed and weak, she mentioned. Neeti Sarkar, CEO & Project Director, NATRIP, recommended the establishment of sufficient number of recycling centres across the country. This, he said, would ensure robust network between agencies and organisations involved in
collecting, dismantling and disposing of ELV wastes.
Japan
Yu Jeong Soo (Ph D), Professor, Tohoku University, presented the scenario of automotive recycling in Japan, and how natural disasters often lead to an increase in damaged vehicles. Damaged vehicles are hard to recycle and may cause secondary disasters, he said. Mentioning that the Government of Japan, with the help of JARA, not only recycles damaged vehicles but also conducts workshops, Soo expressed that it has also set up a recycling promotion center. In terms of regulations, strict policies have been maintained on domestic recycling operators since 2017, he informed. Drawing attention to the banning of waste plastic importation in 2017, Soo averred that a stricter regulation might be enforced in 2019. This, he added, would affect the export of waste wire and other miscellaneous goods. To organise the sector, Yu Jeong Soo suggested that automakers should boost the recycling cost discount.
Korea
Lee Ho Suk, CEO, Auto Recycle Agency, spoke on the automotive recycling rate in Korea, which has gone up from 81 per cent to 95.6 per cent post-2012. He mentioned, “Our automotive recycling ecosystem has helped in improving the environment. We have been successful to lower the automotive shredder residue by 4.6 per cent.” “A proper system is in place to recycle plastic, glass, rubber, seat foam today,” said Suk.
Malaysia
Informing that more than 50 per cent cars in Malaysia are older than ten years, Cho Chee Seng, General Manager, ECO-R, Malaysia, stated, “Malaysia too faces similar challenges like India for recycling ELVs. Almost 85 per cent of the local used parts in the automotive sector in Malaysia are unfit for reuse.” He revealed that Malaysia follows a 4R2S standard, which serves as a guideline for the aftermarket industry to reuse, repair, recycle, or remanufacture ELV parts or components.
Mongolia
Keeping in mind the increasing popularity of motoring, often involving old-used-cars, Baatar Erdenedalai, Director, Mongolian Automotive Recyclers Association, pointed out that a large number of end-of-life vehicles will be generated in the near future. He mentioned that vehicle registration management and registration system are inadequate in Mongolia. It is therefore important to accurately grasp the situation of ELVs, he added. Of the opinion that the network of car dealers and used parts sellers are insufficient due to illegal dumping and inappropriate dismantling, Erdenedalai said, “Immediate treatment of harmful substances, batteries derived from scrapped vehicles, waste liquid, ASR, Freon gas, airbags, etc., is necessary.” “Massive improvement in automobile maintenance and recycling technology is the need of the hour,” he opined.
Australia
To retain a significant value at the end of life of a vehicle, David Nolan, Executive Director, Auto Recyclers Association of Australia, said that proper regulation should be enforced. It should be backed by laws and resources, he mentioned. Drawing attention to the submission of Australia’s industry report, Nolan expressed that Australia faced problems of metal theft, illegal practices in recycling industry linked with criminal networks.
United States
Sue Schauls, Executive Director, Iowa Auto Recyclers Association, said that self-audit could help in view of the rules. “Self-governing will help you participate in the formation of recycling laws. All waste to have value to be reused or burnt,” she said.
Italy
To reduce the scrap transportation cost and effectively increase the value of the scrap market post processing, Claudio Farne, International Sales Manager, Ing. Bonfiglioli S.r.L, proposed to supply clean scrap by their manufactured pieces of equipment consisting of hammer mill shredders, shears, balers, and truck mounted cranes and more. Farne promised to reduce the ratio of mixed scrap and car volume to between 80 and 85 per cent.