Seventy-six of General Motors’ 145 plants are landfill-free, surpassing their goal of having half of their plants at zero waste by the end of this year. On average, 97% of waste gets recycled or reused to make new parts, while 3% gets incinerated to produce energy. Overall plants have recycled or reused 2.5 million tons of waste this year, and GM has made over $2.5 billion from selling waste for recycling since 2007.
Cardboard is turned into sound-absorbing material for headliner in the Buick Lacrosse; plastic caps and other plastic shipping pieces are turned into radiator shrouds for the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra; and recycled tires are used to make baffles – parts under cars that direct air and water.
All GM plants track their waste and produce monthly reports on what waste they’re creating, and what they are and aren’t recycling/reusing. Plants already recycle 90% of their waste, and the challenge now is to find new uses for the last bits of waste that are still being sent to landfills.
John Bradburn, who manages waste initiatives are GM, said ideas come from employees at all levels, suppliers, component makers and beyond. All plants have environmental engineers, and some have people from Waste Management and other contract sources that work as resource managers focused on finding alternatives for waste to landfill.
GM plans to announce their new waste goals in early 2011, according to Sharon Basel from GM’s environment and energy communications department. To read the full story please click here.
Do you think the U.S. auto industry will follow suit after GM? How bold do you think GM’s waste goals will be for next year? Discuss!
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