• Resources Recycling
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.16-36
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• 2005

The quantity of passenger cars in industrial countries has been significantly increased in recent years. According to prognoses, this tendency is likely to continue in the forthcoming future. As a direct consequence, an increase of End-of Life-Vehicles (ELV) will confront us with the problem of "ELV-Recycling". In order to cope with this situation, the European regulation for the treatment of End-of-Life-Vehicles (09/2000) has been transferred to national law in Germany (ELV-Regulation from 1 July 2002). The long term aim is to reduce residues from the ELV-treatment to less than 5 wt% from 30 wt% within the next 10 years (2015). For that reason, there is a need for innovative and more efficient recycling techniques tailored to future materials in automobiles. The design process at automotive industry is continuously changing due to the strong demand on optional equipment and new technical solutions for fuel saving. Light materials, such as aluminum and plastics, consequently become more important and cause a decrease of ferrous metals. Since plastic materials are often used as compounds, a separation into initial material types by means of mechanical recycling methods is not possible. For that reason, efficient recycling can only be realized by introducing recycling-friendly car designs. In the end an integrated approach of auto makers and recycling industry is of decisive significance for the fulfillment of future regulations.