Environmental-Minded Congress Undercutting Nations Most Successful Recycling Effort

    FAIRFAX, VA, May 22, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A "Cash for Clunkers" program designed to help the consumer, the environment, and more importantly to Congress, the automakers passed a key House committee this week. On Tuesday, Sens. Dianne Feinsten, D-Calif., Susan Collins, R-Maine and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., announced a more ambitious version of the House measure. Unfortunately, both congressional plans contain a provision that will adversely affect many more American families than it will help along with harming a key global environmental industry.

Regrettably, current Congressional "Cash for Clunkers" measures include language that restricts the sale of two major replacement parts -- the engine and drive train -- harvested from vehicles turned in for end-of-life processing under these programs. Reducing the supply of quality recyclable OEM parts for vehicle repair will lead to increased prices on those essential replacement parts for consumers who need to get their cars fixed in order to maintain their employment. Without access to quality "recyclable" parts, this bill will also harm thousands of independent repair shops, auto restorers, customizers and their customers across the country that employ more than 850,000 people. These businesses are already distressed in today's weak economy.

Environmentally, the reuse of automobile parts prior to their ultimate destruction is preferable to merely recycling the metal as scrap. Automotive recycling saves valuable global resources and energy that is required in the production of a replacement new part. Without any government handouts, the American automotive recycling industry saves an average of 85 billion barrels of oil per year - over 233,000 barrels per day. To put this in perspective, the new "Cash for Clunkers" legislation announced in the Senate this week saves merely 11,451 barrels per day, which is at least 32 percent higher than the measure the House Energy and Commerce committee approved (8,706 barrels per day). Both Congressional plans are estimated to costs American taxpayers $ 4 billion.

Jeopardizing the viability of the automotive recycling industry committed to the efficient removal and reuse of "green" automotive parts is short-sided and dangerous. "Notwithstanding good intentions, current efforts are set to kill the environmental goose that lays the golden "green" egg," says the Automotive Recyclers Association's Executive Vice President Michael E. Wilson. Without a vibrant industry committed to the sound processing of end-of-life vehicles, more and more automobiles will litter our nation's side roads and back streets negatively impacting both our quality of air and water.

Established in 1943, the Automotive Recyclers Association ("ARA") represents an industry dedicated to the efficient removal and reuse of "green" automotive parts, and the proper recycling of inoperable motor vehicles. ARA represents over 4,500 auto recycling facilities in the United States and fourteen other countries around the world. With programs such as the Certified Automotive Recycler Program (CAR) and other partnerships, ARA members continue to provide consumers with quality, low cost alternatives for vehicle replacement parts, while preserving our environment for a "greener" tomorrow.

To learn more about the Association, visit ARA's home page at www.a-r-a.org or call (703) 385-1001.

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