| By the end of 1940s it seems all the auto makers | | | | Europe that the EU, WTO and other organizations |
| were using plastics in their cars, Henry Ford was | | | | have formed the ELV or End of Life Program to |
| the first in 1942, and many folks though he was | | | | fix this problem. Each manufacturer puts up a |
| nuts, but it turns out once again, the man was | | | | deposit of each vehicle sold so when it's life is |
| just ahead of his time. Plastic has become a | | | | over they can afford to recycle all of it, |
| preferred material over the years. But back in the | | | | separating out the plastics, metals, and rubbers. |
| day even Goodyear started making plastic for | | | | The University of Chicago has been working on |
| automobiles in those days, which supplemented | | | | ways to melt down the plastic, rubber, and foams |
| the rubber industry after World War II. | | | | to reuse. I would say that within the next decade |
| Indeed, if you ever get chance and visit Akron | | | | we will have a similar program to the ELV |
| Ohio, may I recommend going to the "World of | | | | program in Europe. Today if you look at the |
| Rubber Museum" at the Goodyear plant down | | | | South every person living in a mobile home has a |
| town and check out the progression of materials | | | | least five cars not running sitting out front rusting |
| used in cars. There is so much rubber in today's | | | | away. |
| automobiles, along with so much plastic that is | | | | These are iron oxides get into the groundwater |
| actually causing a real problem when these cars | | | | and can cause increased chance of heart attacks. |
| are crushed for metal recycling or end up in the | | | | And when these vehicles catch fire the smoke |
| junkyard. | | | | from the plastic is quite toxic. Please consider all |
| As a matter-of-fact the problem is so huge in | | | | this. |