2010 Volume 21 Issue 2 Pages 87-95
Many countries have recently enacted a recycling law based on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a fast growing trend in the world today. For example, Japan enforced the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Recycling Law in 2005. Similarly, in Korea from the year 2009, an ELV recycling system that places a greater responsibility for recycling on the producer has been implemented. In addition, auto manufacturers must offer gratis recovery when the recycling cost exceeds the ELV price. Compared to the system seen in Japanese, which manages only air bags, Freon gas and ASR, Korea has a much stricter system. However, the Korean side has not been managed smoothly due to delays in the building of infrastructure and the existence of a hostile monitoring system.
On a macro-perspective, the ELV recycling systems in both Japan and Korea have influenced Asian nations. For example, China is currently trying to build an independent ELV recycling system patterned after the systems being used in Japan and Korea. China′s framework-oriented policy, known as Technical Policy of Automotive Products Recovery, is lacking in operability for guiding auto manufacturers, dismantlers and recycling companies to carry out automotive recycling activities. This is because there is a great difference between China and Japan in the level of environmental consciousness, innovative automobile design, waste reduction programs for used parts, remanufacturing and ELV recycling technology. Likewise, there are observed gaps between the different regions in China, so it is essential that appropriate incentives and policies be introduced to guide and promote the development of the local automotive recycling system based on each local situation. On a larger scale, ELV is a pressing issue in Asia and around the world and the new direction in this field must lead to formation of partnerships and cooperation, not just for Asia but also on a global level.
