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How does your car really
impact our planet?

Article By Earth 911 - http://earth911.org

Cars are everywhere. They’re how we get to work, visit friends and see the sights. But cars come with a whole lot of responsibilities.

As any car owner will know, maintenance can sometimes be a full-time job. Most automobiles require motor oil and other fluids like transmission and brake fluid to run properly.

However, keeping your car going is only one part of a driver’s responsibilities. What about the waste that comes from cars? Where does the motor oil go? Can you recycle transmission fluid?

Let’s learn more about these different products and their impact on our earth.

Tires

Tires are of high priority in today’s society because cars are our main source of transportation. In the U.S., 920 million tires were used for non-commercial vehicles on the road in 2005, and every year on average, 290 million tires are disposed of. That’s about one tire per person in this country alone. Approximately 27 million tires, or 9 percent, are said to be discarded in monofills or landfills.

There are several environmental and health concerns with disposing tires in landfills or as tire stock piles.

• Many tire stock piles are burned. This creates heavy black smoke and oily residue on soil. The fires are typically difficult to extinguish due to the oil in the tires.
• Tire stock piles are suitable breeding grounds for varmints. Tires collect large pools of water, the perfect atmosphere for mosquitoes, which can carry diseases like encephalitis or dengue fever.

Tires are viewed as a one of the most problematic sources of waste. This is mainly due to the high quantities produced and their great durability, prohibiting the tire from breaking down. However, their durability makes reuse of scrap tires easy, further promoting the need to recycling scrap tires. By recycling tires we also reduce the amount of raw rubber manufacturing, saving natural resources like crude oil.

From 1990 to 2003, the total number of scrap tires going to market increased from 11 million to 233 million. Of all the scrap tires discarded today, over 75 percent are recycled or used for fuel or other applications.

Car Fluids

• One gallon of motor oil has the potential to contaminate a million gallons of water, and it is a major source of polluted waterways and drinking water
• Motor oil is insoluble in water
• If there is a spill, use an absorbent material like sawdust or cat litter to clean up the spill and dispose of properly
• As antifreeze biodegrades in water, it lowers the level of dissolved oxygen and kills aquatic life. It also tastes sweet (take our word for it), which makes it enticing and potentially deadly to animals and children
• Motor oil mixed with water is often not accepted by recyclers
• Over 380 million gallons of used oil is re-used or recycled in the U.S. each year, according to the EPA
• Up to 74 percent of all oil reuse/recycling in the U.S. is for burning in turbines, incinerators, power plants, cement kilns and manufacturing facilities (asphalt, steel, etc.)
• If brake fluid is mixed with other car fluids, it may create hazardous waste that cannot be recycled
• Oil poured down the drain can kill the bacteria needed to break down human wastes in the sewage treatment plant or in a septic system

Auto Bodies

The body is the most significant structural component of the automobile. Auto bodies are often made from sheet steel because of its flexibility, availability and low cost. Steel and iron comprise 65 percent of the average vehicle.

Other elements are added to a car body to:

• Minimize wrinkling and tearing during manufacturing
• Increase toughness
• Increase resistance to brittle deformation

The body consists of several complex steel sections that have been stamped into a shape for your car. There are many unique body styles for different brands of cars.

The purpose of the car body is to:

• Enclose the vehicle for passenger comfort and safety
• Create minimal resistance as it cuts through the air
• Act as a solid mount for other elements in the car

Each year more than 10 million vehicles are disposed of in the United States. Although cars are extremely complex, they are one of the most recycled products today. In the European Union, a mandatory recycling and take back program is in effect, forcing producers to be responsible for vehicle disposal.

According to the Motor and Equipment Manufactures Association, over 76 percent of each scrap automobile is recycled. Almost all of the iron and steel of a car are recovered when recycled or reused, as well as lead, aluminum and copper.

Despite what many consumers believe, scrap cars are of high value and extremely useful when recycled. The Steel Recycling Institute reported that in 1999, there was enough recycled steel from scrap cars to produce 13 million new cars.

Car Batteries

You put your key in the ignition, turn the ignition switch, and hear the sweet sound of a running motor, all thanks to your car battery. What exactly is the duty of a car battery?

• Provides power for the ignition and starter system to start the engine
• Supplies additional power when the vehicle’s electrical load exceeds the supply for the charging system
• Acts as a voltage stabilizer in the electrical system, suppressing voltage spikes and preventing damage to other components in the electrical system

Common automotive batteries today are of a lead-acid storage design, where stored chemical energy is converted into electrical energy to power the vehicle.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency 99 percent of automobile batteries were recycled, in 2006. Car batteries have the highest recycling rate of out of all articles that are recycled. About 60 percent of the worlds lead comes from recycled car batteries. Lead-acid batteries use over 80 percent of the lead produced in the U.S.; and new lead-acid batteries are composed of 60 percent to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic. It is much better for the environment to recycle batteries rather than throwing them in a landfill or junkyard.

Lead-acid batteries are highly toxic. Sulfuric acid electrolyte, a highly corrosive poison that produces flammable and toxic gases that can explode, is contained deep within these batteries. In 2003 serious eye injuries affected approximately 6,000 motorists who were working around car batteries. Local, state and federal agencies regulate the battery industry to make sure health and environmental regulations are observed.

Miscellaneous Car Parts and Accessories

An automobile includes several features that are not main components. Some are necessary for a car to run properly, while others are features we like to add. A few of these products include:

• Windshield
• Brake pad
• Oil filter
• Seat Covers
• Floor Mats

Windshields

A windshield is composed of two layers of glass separated by a layer of flexible plastic, which glues the two together. This layer is very beneficial because:

• Makes penetration by objects more difficult
• Makes the windsheild stronger and less likely to shatter into tiny pieces if broken
• Stops harmful UV rays from entering the vehicle
• Reduces sound from outside the car

By recycling vehicle windshields the amount of automotive waste in landfills could be reduced by 3 percent; however, due to plastic laminates, windshields are one of the most difficult auto parts to recycle.

Brake Pads

Brake pads are the part of the car that absorb the heat energy from friction when the brakes are applied, and also provide grip to stop the vehicle, turning kinetic energy of a moving car to heat energy. Today, brake pads are considered semi-metallic, typically using:

• Synthetic fiber
• Brass fiber
• Copper fiber
• Bonding resin

Brake pads were composed of asbestos and carbon in the past, but those types of brake pads have since been banned in the U.S. Some brake pads are made in part from ground rubber from recycled tires.

Oil Filters

Motor oil has several extremely important functions, so it is important that contaminants do not enter the oil and cause wear on internal parts. In order to keep the oil clean, cars are equipped with oil filters. Oil is pumped through the filter and then distributed through out the engine. Oil filters are composed of steel; if all the filters sold each year in the U.S. were recycled, 160,000 tons of steel would be recovered. . Oil filters are highly recyclable, so when you change your motor oil and oil filter.

Seat Covers

Seat covers are a great way to keep your car looking new and clean. Seat covers can:

• Protect the upholstery from hazards
• Cover existing damage rather than having to reupholster your seats
• Create an interior that suites your preferences and tastes

There are several different types of material used to create seat covers, including:

• Poly-cotton
• Velour
• Cotton canvas
• Neoprene
• Sheepskin

Car floor mats

This accessories can protect the flooring and cargo areas from grime and moisture; they can also be decorative. Mats are typically made of reaction injection-molded polyurethane, which maximizes shock absorption but does not add bulk or weight. However, when purchasing car floor mats, look for mats made from scrap tires.

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