1. Green Stamp Plus Automotive Environmental Accreditation
Green Stamp Plus is an Environmental Accreditation for the Australian Automotive Industry, with specific criteria in place catering for the unique requirements of Automotive recycling businesses. Initially funded by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Green Stamp Plus is a nationwide program. Green Stamp Plus, also known as Green Stamp in some States, is an accreditation program run by the individual Australian States and Territories. Accreditation is rewarded to automotive businesses that are not only compliant with the law, but have gone above and beyond compliance to work in a way that is environmentally friendly. Green Stamp Plus Accredited businesses throughout Australia are operating in a way that has the least possible effect on the environment!
To find out more or to become Green Stamp/Green Stamp Plus Accredited, contact your State or Territory Association or visit the Green Stamp Plus Website.
2. End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs)
ELVs are a growing concern for the world, the Australian community, the automotive industry and of course for auto parts recyclers.
More than 500,000 vehicles are retired from Australian roads each year. Recent reports by both the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage found that there are significant levels of pollution and criminal activity resulting from non-existent or inadequate controls on the illegitimate operators in the industry.
Overseas research has shown End-of-Life-Vehicle (ELV) contaminants that enter the environment include fluids such as oil, petrol, brake fluids, coolant etc as well as toxic heavy metals such as lead, hexavalent chromium, mercury, along with PCBs. While the metal fraction of ELVs is generally recovered by metal recyclers, at least 100,000 tonnes of waste from ELVs is generated annually, representing a substantial resource loss.
* To view more on ELVs in Europe, refer www.egaranet.org and click "How we treat ELVs?" * For information on Japan's ELV activities; http://www.toyota-global.com/sustainability/environmental_responsibility/automobile_recycling/ * For more information on ELVs and overseas legislation (Europe & Japan), please contact the APRAA National Office.