Green Group Condemns Toxic Vehicles as Dead-End for Environment and Human Health

Wednesday, 18 June 2003 10:00

"Pumping huge amounts of lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants into the environment is simply not good enough," said Jane Castle, TEC Campaigner.

"These toxic materials can leach into groundwater and threaten human and environmental health. It's time for vehicle manufacturers to take the back their toxic progeny and deal with them responsibly."

Vehicles are one of the priority 'wastes of concern' targeted by the Environment Protection Authority for Extended Producer Responsibility. Producers face mandatory government schemes if they fail to manage their products more responsibly. Over 500,000 vehicles are discarded every year in Australia and only a proportion of them are recycled.

"At present, no requirements ensure vehicle recycling or disassembly to ensure that toxic components such as lead batteries, toxic plastics or fluids are removed."

"In Europe 'shredder flock' is classified as a hazardous waste and manufacturers must recycle 95% of vehicles they manufacture. This is where we should be looking to set our standards, instead of relying on out-dated, bad habits."
 

For further information

Contact
:
Jane Castle or Jeff Angel
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5680
Email
:
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WWW
:
http://www.tec.org.au/