-Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today
announced it has reached an agreement with DaimlerChrysler (DC) to cooperate
in the area of recycling throughout Europe. As part of MMC's alliance
with DC, the agreement represents MMC's commitment to addressing the European
Union directive on end-of-life vehicles.
The agreement marks a proactive move to comply with the directive, which
calls for the proper recycling of end-of-life vehicles to promote environmental
protection in Europe. In cooperation with DC, MMC will first investigate
the current state of implementation of the directive in member states
and recycling infrastructure in Europe from 2003.
MMC will then follow this up by looking into possible ways to set up
a recycling network for end-of-life vehicles and spare parts. Other possibilities
for cooperation in the alliance with DC for recycling include dealer workshop
waste management systems, design for recycling, reselling used parts,
monitoring recycling and used vehicle status in Europe, and creating a
database of recycling related information.
The European Commission issued its directive on end-of-life vehicles
in September 2000 to member states. Targets for automakers include: establishing
recycling networks and vehicle take-back programs; increasing recycling
rate (85% re-use and recovery rate by 2006 and 95% by 2015); and restricting
the use of specific hazardous substances (lead, mercury, cadmium, and
hexavalent chromium) from July 2003.
