Chrysler Fluff Recycling Awarded

The automaker was among 24 nominees who vied for the award, which was announced by EREF at its board meeting in Austin, Texas. DaimlerChrysler was selected in recognition of its “extraordinary leadership contributions toward activities related to waste recycling, processing, reuse, and disposal,” according to an EREF news release.

DaimlerChrysler’s CARE (Concepts for Advanced Recycling and Environmental) Car II program was recognized for its emphasis on using recycled content plastic to make plastic automotive components. While the metal portion of automobiles is traditionally recycled easily into new metal products, the plastics portion has been more problematic.

As part of the project, Chrysler Group used automotive shredder residue (ASR) as material for components used in new cars. Chrysler worked with 26 production suppliers and Recovery Plastics International (RPI), Salt Lake City, Utah, to retrofit two Jeep Grand Cherokees with 54 recycled plastic parts.

Chrysler says it is the first automaker to use RPI’s proprietary plastic flotation technology to separate the myriad of plastic types found in ASR – most of which is currently landfilled - and use the recovered plastic to manufacture new vehicle parts.

The recycled parts meet the same material specifications required for production vehicles and were manufactured by the Chrysler Group’s suppliers. The suppliers used current production molds and processes to produce the parts -- at a lower cost than using virgin plastic, according to the company. Chrysler Group estimates that the recycled plastic can save $10 to $20 per vehicle.

The goals of the CARE program are to increase the recyclability and recovery of automobiles from 75 percent to about 95 percent by weight and increase the use of recycled materials in production vehicles. Reclaiming the plastic portion of ASR created by auto shredders will be necessary to meet that goal.

Bernard Robertson of DaimlerChrysler will accept the award and a check for $50,000 in late June on behalf of the corporation. Vice president Dick Cheney, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, U.S. EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, the German ambassador to the U.S. and other dignitaries have been invited to attend the June 26 awards event in Washington.

According to EREF chairman Ronald McCracken, “DaimlerChrysler is the perfect example of the manufacturing industry’s commitment to identifying crucial environmental issues and applying innovative and beneficial technology for the good of us all. They truly deserve this award.”

“Based on the number and variety of nominations received this year, the Environmentalist of the Year Award is becoming sought-after recognition,” adds Michael Cagney, president of Washington-based EREF. “The award is bringing significant visibility to the vital work performed by EREF and to the importance that is now placed on critical waste management research.”