New Technology Simplifies Bumper Recycling
Mazda Motor Corporation has developed a new technology to expedite the process of recycling automotive bumpers. For the first time, the Japanese company allows all types of bumpers to be recycled using the same machine.
According to an Ezine article, bumper repair is the most common car repair, with a rear-end collision reported every 17 seconds and 80 percent of bumper damage occurring during parking. In the past, the bumper’s different materials (metal, plastic, paint) had to be removed by hand, reducing the efficiency of the recycling process.
Mazda has been collecting damaged bumpers since 1992 and is now able to remove paint and turn used bumpers into new bumpers. Photo: Jalopnik.com
The new technology allows bumpers to be ground into pellets, where pressurized air separates the metal from the plastic. Pellets are also sorted so that those with paint are not mixed with the unpainted plastic. The machine can then strip any paint using shear force.
A common material used to manufacture bumpers is polypropylene (PP), or #5 plastic. This plastic resin is also used to make anything from yogurt containers to bottle caps, meaning recycling these products can also contribute material for new bumpers.
Mazda has been collecting damaged bumpers since 1992, which were then recycled into vehicle undercovers. Since then, it has produced technology to remove paint and turn used bumpers into new bumpers.
Many insurance companies both encourage and seek out recycled auto parts for car repairs. Keep in mind that recycled auto parts are not tested for safety before being installed on a car.
- Insure.com(07/20/2003). "Was Your Car Repaired With "Recycled" Auto Parts?" http://www.insure.com/articles/carinsurance/recycled-auto-parts.html.
- Blanco, Sebastian. Autobloggreen(03/23/2009). "Mazda Develops Automatic Bumper Recycling Process" http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/23/mazda-develops-automatic-bumper-recycling-process?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_autobloggreen.
- McCartney, Samantha. EZine(01/01/2005). "Bumper Repair - Why It's the Most Common Repair" http://ezinearticles.com/?Bumper-Repair---Why-Its-the-Most-Common-Repair&id=1481045.
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George
posted on August 14th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Where can car bumpers be recycled here in the U.S.?