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)