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China aims to increase car recycling rate

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-05-23 11:29

TheNational Development and Reform Commission(NDRC) recently unveiled its goals to increase the recycling rate of vehicles and the materials used to make vehicles.

In the Auto Product Recycling Technology Policy released jointly by NDRC, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the State Environmental Protection Administration, there are three step-by-step goals to achieve an increase in the recycling and reusing rate.

First, by the year 2010, the recycling rate of all imported and domestic commercial vehicles should reach 85 percent, and the rate of reusing the materials should reach 80 percent. Meanwhile, the recycling rate of those trucks weighing less than 3.5 tons and all passenger cars should be at 80 percent, and 75 percent for the rate of reusing their materials.

Second, from 2012 onwards, the recycling rate of all kinds of imported and domestic vehicles will be targeted at 90 percent and 80 percent of all materials reused. Lastly, these two figures should rise to 95 percent and 85 percent respectively by the year 2017.

In order to achieve these goals and to improve the management of the auto industry, NDRC held its third seminar on making detailed policies and standards, such as the Auto Product Recycling Administrative Measures and the List of Forbidden or Limited Materials in Making Vehicles.

Meanwhile, auto manufacturers must shoulder part of the responsibility in making less of an impact on the environment. From the beginning of the designing and manufacturing processes, companies should consider using recyclable materials, and the manufacturers are asked to provide recycling and dismantling guiding manuals when they release new models. From 2010 onwards, carmakers and their dealers need to be responsible for recycling their own products and the packages, or they can ask other agents to do it for them instead.

China plans to record the carmaker's recycling rate next year. When enterprises are trying to enter the auto-manufacturing industry, their recycling capability will also be considered. And once they fail to meet the recycling requirements, a series of punishments are waiting for them, like suspending their production and sale, giving penalties and charging them with extra environmental protection fees.

The recycling rate is a key element in energy efficiency and the auto industry's contribution to environmental protection. China still has a long way to bridge the large gap with developed countries in the process of recycling, dismantling and reusing materials.