BMW News
BMW Group Vehicles Meet Recyclability Goals
By BMW- North America
Mar 13, 2008, 10:09

Munich The BMW Group has proved in a large industrial trial involving 501 pilot-production vehicles that it has already met the future high standards defined for reusability, recyclability and usability today. The statutory regulations for recycling include the EU Directive 2005/64/EU. This directive specifies that at least 85 percent of new vehicles must be capable of being recycled and up to 95 percent must be usable with effect from December 2008 at the latest. These results verify that the recycling quotas can be achieved by 2015.

The pre-treatment of vehicles and dismantling of components for reuse was carried out at the BMW Group Recycling and Dismantling Center (RDZ). This includes deactivation of pyrotechnic components by selective detonation and separate removal of all liquids from the vehicle. The latest major trial only involved components being assembled which can be redeployed as used parts. Depending on their condition, these include wheels, or front and tail lights. Shredding of the residual bodies and processing treatment for the material fractions produced by post-shredder technology was carried out at partner processing companies. These processes enable metals and composites containing metals to be used in entirety as secondary raw materials directly or following further reprocessing. Plastic waste materials in the form of a mixture of types of plastic are particularly important. The products created were used as recyclates for the manufacture of new components and as replacements for conventional reducing agents, e.g. coke and heavy oil, in furnaces. This means that material cycles are closed efficiently and ecologically. The high proportion of re-used and commercially recycled materials demonstrates the importance of old vehicles as a raw-material resource.

The initial operations of the large-scale trial were carried out at the Recycling and Dismantling Center. The commitment of the BMW Group to continually optimising the recycling process has been concentrated here since 1994. Today, the certified specialist operation is one of the leading international facilities of its kind. The RDZ acts as a development platform and also launches important initiatives for dismantling and drainage techniques, and for future recycling concepts. The BMW Group also pre-empts a large number of measures in the design and development of its vehicles which ultimately promote efficient and ecological re-use of the products. The BMW Group organizes this initiative under the concept of Design for Recycling. For example, all components containing liquids are designed so that operating liquids such as oil, fuel, brake fluid and coolants can be removed quickly and easily prior to dismantling. Pyrotechnic components are designed so that they can be rendered harmless selectively by plugging into a central socket connection. This significantly simplifies and shortens the process of dismantling and re-use.

Further information on the recycling strategy of the BMW Group can be accessed by clicking on www.bmwgroup.com/recycling. Drivers who want to have their BMW or MINI recycled free of charge professionally can find information under www.bmw.com/recycling or www.mini.com/recycling .

For more discussion on this story, click on the link to our discussion forums at the left.

© Copyright 2003 by mwerks.com