ARA displeased with Ford’s recycling decisions

The Manassas, Virginia-based Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) says Ford Motor Co.’s decision to terminate its lighting and bumper fascia core recovery program effective June 1 could have a negative environmental impact.

According to the ARA, Ford has stated it is ending the recovery program, which has been in place for several years, because of the administrative burden it created for dealers and collision repairers.

“ARA is concerned about the environmental impact the termination of this core program will have,” says ARA Executive Director Sandy Blalock. “However, we are confident that the replacement parts market will find a solution to appropriately recovering and recycling these components.”

The ARA says a 2012 statement attributed to Ford Recycling and Remanufacturing Manager Kim Goering referred to the program as demonstrating Ford’s commitment to doing “whatever we can to extend the life of these components. Even more important, however, is that Ford strongly believes it’s just the right thing to do from an environmental perspective.”

That same statement, says ARA, acknowledged a desire by the automaker to cut into the remanufacturing sector of the aftermarket, a motive that ARA maintains is just one example of the company’s efforts to stifle competition and raise the cost of repairs. 

“It’s clear that over the past several years, Ford and other auto manufacturers have taken aggressive steps to push the automotive recycling as well as remanufacturing and aftermarket industries out of the market,” says ARA President Scott Robertson.  “I find it highly suspect [that] in 2012 Ford can publicly acknowledge that their original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts still have a lot of life left, yet they’ve taken every position to the contrary when it comes to the recycled, genuine OEM parts sold by our members. The professional automotive recycling industry is the true champion of recycling here, and I think Ford’s termination of this program shows that.”

The ARA says it represents the interests of more than 4,500 automotive recyclers in the United States and 17 other countries.