A joint release by the National Development and Reform
Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the State
Environmental Protection Administration has outlined three goals
that must be met to ensure increase vehicle recycling and reuse in
the next decade.
Firstly, by 2010, 85 percent of all imported and domestic
commercial vehicles should be recycled along with 80 percent of
commercial vehicular materials. Furthermore, 80 percent of all
trucks weighing less than 3.5 tons and all passenger cars should be
recycled along with 75 percent of their components.
Secondly, from 2012 onwards, the rates will be leveled out with
90 percent of all kinds of vehicles needing to be recycled and 80
percent of all materials. These figures will be raised further to
95 percent and 85 percent respectively by 2017.
In order to achieve these goals and to overhaul the auto
industry, the NDRC held its third seminar to find detailed policies
and standards, such as the previously promulgated Auto Product
Recycling Administrative Measures and the List of Forbidden or
Limited Materials in Making Vehicles.
Meanwhile, auto manufacturers must play their part in fighting
pollution. From the outset of the designing and manufacturing
process, companies should make full use or recyclable materials and
manufacturers will be asked to create recycling and dismantling
guiding manuals for all new models. From 2010 onwards, carmakers
and their dealers will bear full responsibility for recycling their
own products, or at least ensure other agents take up this role if
they do not.
China plans to track all car manufacturers’ recycling records
from next year, and any new enterprises looking to enter the market
will have their recycling capability scrutinized. Should companies
they fail to meet the recycling requirements, punitive measures
will be put in place such as suspending production and sales, and
fines such as charging them extra environmental protection
fees.
Recycling is key to the national energy efficiency blueprint and
the auto industry must play its part to help China to catch up with
developed countries in recycling, dismantling and reusing
materials.
(China Daily May 24, 2007)
