VIDEO from Medialink and General Motors: Earth Day 2008 - Recyclable Cars

NEW YORK (Map) - NEW YORK, April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- What is the most recycled product in the US? Newspapers? Water bottles? Actually, the surprising answer is automobiles. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 95% of all automobiles are recycled, beating both paper and plastic. Millions of vehicles will reach the end of the road this year, and the Automotive Recyclers Association is predicting 11.4 million of those will be recycled.

The junk yards of yesterday are quickly being replaced by today's automotive recyclers. These high-tech facilities are capable of recycling more than 84% of a vehicle and preventing millions of tons of automotive parts and materials from going to landfills. Advanced technology in this industry allows everything from floor mats and instrument panels to upholstery, aluminum and steel to be recycled for use in new automobiles and other consumer products.

The raw materials that go into building a vehicle are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive, so manufacturers are not only designing how a car will be put together but simultaneously how it will be taken apart. U.S. automakers continue to research and implement new technologies to make their cars more recyclable and ultimately have less impact on the environment. Vehicle recycling is the 16th largest industry in the country; a market-driven and highly profitable business.

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