• Resources Recycling
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• v.16 no.1 s.75
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• pp.15-27
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• 2007

The Korean Auto industry has developed remarkably over the past 30 years. In 2005 alone, Korea produced 3.7 million vehicles, and the number of vehicles registered surpassed the 15 million marks. The rapid growth in registration, however, has given increasing problems to the traffic congestion and the environmental pollution. The system for handling of ELV in Korea is governed by the 'Motor management law'. The law places the responsibility for vehicle scrapping directly on the vehicle owners. The take-back rate of ELV reaches nearly 100% in Korea since 1987. To further entourage recycling, the government introduced the extended producer responsibility system(EPRS) starting January 1, 2003, which imposes waste recycling obligations on producers or importers. According to the system, producers must recycle home appliances and packaging materials. This system, however, did not involve the automobiles. In 2006, the automobiles recycling law is under preparing now by the government. This article is concerning current status for End-of-Life vehicle's recycling and the recycling system model for advanced ELV industries in Korea.