Waste management has always been a headache
but in today’s age where almost everyone is driving something-bikes, cars,
buses, trucks etc., this issue has become a matter of great concern. Also, in
an attempt to curb air pollution, the Indian government recently announced the
scrapping of diesel vehicles older than 15 years across the country. To get the
most out of this, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) stated
that the government needs to adopt a policy to scrap old vehicles in order
encourage owners.
In almost every process from the casting of
body frames to the painting, there is some waste generated which needs to be
managed properly to ensure the minimum loss and avoidance of any hazardous
accident. Even after the vehicles are retired and become useless, their proper
recycling can save a lot of resources.
Automobile waste management like all other
waste management involve many steps from the segregation to the disposal and
recycling. Major automobile wastes include the tires, oils, anti-freezes, scrap
metals, etc. which cannot be handled in the way normal wastes are managed. Most
of these wastes are recyclable if managed properly.
The tires are among the largest and most
problematic sources of waste, due to the large volume produced, their
durability, and the fact that they contain a number of components that are
ecologically problematic. It is estimated that 259 million tires are discarded
annually (data is for the 1980s and 1990s). The same characteristics that make waste
tires problematic, their cheap availability, bulk, and resilience, also
make them attractive targets for recycling.
The various kind of oils used in automobiles
like the engine oil, hydraulic oil etc. should be disposed properly so that it
don’t get mixed with any water reservoir. Nowadays, most of the vehicles are
coming with the anti-freeze facility. Most of the anti-freeze contain ethylene
glycol which causes dizziness or nausea, even when just inhaled. So, if these
anti-freezes are not disposed properly it can be problematic.
In the similar way, most of the automobile
wastes can be either recycled or properly disposed.
Another important aspect of automobile waste
management is the “Vehicle Recycling”. It is the dismantling of vehicles
for spare parts. Vehicle recycling has always occurred to some degree but in
recent years manufacturers have become involved in the process. There are many
benefits not only ecologically but also economically. Recycling one car saves
1.25 tons of iron ore, 1400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone, 13/14
tons of steel, 39,090 gallons of water.
Interested in scrapping your vehicle? There
are currently no major scrappers or policy related to this in India. You need
to visit a local dealer who pays you according to the rate of iron. If you wish
to get car dismantled by a local dealer do ensure that-
- You must get the car scrapped in front of you, take note of parts you are selling and ensure the vehicle is dismantled and not used for illegal activities. You can even take some photos of the process.
- Ask for a copy of scrap dealer’s license and voter id and make him write the details of your deal on it with signature. You can also get the same written on a stamp paper. (Scrap deal agreement).
- Keep these papers safely with you for some years.
Or, there is a rise of organizations like cartiff.com
in India which helps you scrap your vehicle more conveniently.