Nissan exceeds Japan’s automobile recycling targets

Nissan shared the progress report on its recycling efforts for the fiscal year 2007 (April 2007 to March 2008). This is the second consecutive year that Nissan has exceeded its target recycling rates for end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in accordance with the Japan Automobile Recycling Law.

Nissan recovered 97,195.7 tons from the 134,935.7 (661,213 vehicles) tons of Automobile Shredder Residue (ASR). This represents a recovery ratio of 72.0%. The Japan Automobile Recycling law stipulates a target of 70% recycling rate by 2015.

Nissan recovered 614,601 airbag-related products from 297,803 vehicles through recovery processing and on-board deployment operations. The airbag recycling ratio stood at 94.3%, exceeding the legal requirement of 85%.

A total of 164,260kg of fluorocarbons collected from 534,655 vehicles were processed.

The cost of these recycling efforts amounted to 5,956,720,099 yen. Recycling fees and income generated from the business of managing recycling operations totalled 6,092,098,207 yen, contributing to a net surplus of 135,378,108 yen.

From FY2004 to FY2007, the total cost of recycling operations lead to a net surplus of 77,171,227 yen. This is equivalent to 41 yen per vehicle. For the long-term forecast, Nissan anticipates cost of recycling operations to stabilise with either a minor surplus or deficit.

The FY2007 progress report demonstrates Nissan has exceeded all the recycling standards stipulated under the Japan Automobile Recycling Law ahead of its regulatory obligations.

Consistent to the Nissan Green Program 2010, the company will continue with its efforts to reach the ultimate recovery ratio of 100%, that is to reuse and recover 100% of the materials from ELV into usable resources.

Nissan’s activities in recycling are as follows:

Activities in new vehicles
Expansion of vehicle design to enable easy dismantling and recycling of components
Development of recycling methodologies for hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles
Increase use of recycled materials

Promotion of End-of-Life Vehicle recycling
Develop new methodologies in efficient recycling of ELVs into usable materials
Measures to achieve zero land-fill waste (in Japan)
Development of material recycling technology in creating usable materials from ELVs

Partnership with relevant business partners
Provide recycling resource support
Share information on new recycling methodologies with our business partners
: Issue ELV recycling manuals
: Issue manuals for removing copper and plastic parts

Publish recycling guideline on harness components, in collaboration with 5 member companies of the Automobile shredder residue Recycling promotion Team (ART)
Publish newsletter to improve collaboration with recycling businesses.

Nissan Green Program 2010 mid-term environmental plan is aimed at developing new technologies, products and services that can lead to real-world reductions in vehicle CO2 emissions, cleaner emissions, and recycling of resources.