Canadian Auto Workers Hope to Keep Scrapped Cars in Canada

The Canadian Auto Workers union has launched a national lobbying effort to persuade the federal government to pass laws that would ensure all vehicles sold in Canada will be dismantled and recycled in the country.

Calling it a way to ensure jobs, as well as an environmentally sound policy, the CAW's Windsor Regional Environment Council said the union's 260,000 members across the country will be pressed into service for a petition drive designed to sway legislators toward an extended producer responsibility for automobile manufacturers.

"This legislation already exists in Europe and Japan," said Ken Bondy, president of the Regional Environmental Council. "Our auto companies are already working under this legislation in these countries. They know all about this issue."

He said the policy has to be legislated because the auto companies won't voluntarily dish out the millions of dollars necessary to put EPR into practice. But in the long run it will save the companies money, since they won't have to rely on virgin raw materials, Bondy said.

The EPR policy means the auto producer takes back the vehicle  at the end of its useful life, either directly or through a third party. It would encourage companies to design products that are non-toxic and highly reusable and recyclable.

Bondy said the policy would reduce the amount of raw materials being mined from the earth, as well as reduce the "auto fluff" in landfills -- toxic and cumbersome substances from the vehicle interiors such as carpeting, seat padding and dashboard components.

Bondy said the CAW envisions a vehicle "disassembly plant" next to every assembly plant.