MATTE’S MANDATE
When it comes to electric vehicle batteries, Quebec’s Association of Auto Parts Recyclers (ARPAC) share a question in common with much of the general Canadian public: “What end of life electric vehicle battery strategies need to be in place to support our environmental goals while achieving the one hundred percent zero-emission vehicle target by 2035?”
Luckily, ARPAC has a number of answers. Specifically, four “comments” from association CEO Simon Matte on how they will attempt to guide the automotive recycling industry for when electric vehicles and their batteries wind up in salvage yards.
Matte’s first comment speaks to the need for ARPAC to reassure Canadians that automobiles have been recycled in this country for more than a century and EVs won’t be what stops that. Secondly, Canadians can be set at ease when their EV reaches the end of its life as any business that is a member of Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) is proven to be a qualified dealer, able to safely and sustainably dismantle and recycle an EV according to Canadian Automotive
Recyclers Environmental Code standards.
Batteries taken in by an ARC-member facility can be inventoried, inspected and re-sold to repair
another vehicle or to companies who deal in the manufacturing of energy storage equipment. Finally, Matte suggests a tax for buyers looking to export Canadian parts from EVs that could contain valuable minerals that could otherwise be re-integrated into the manufacturing process.
AIRBAG APPLAUSE
Canadian auto recyclers have been working hard to pick up the pieces of the still-ongoing Takata airbag recall that affected millions of vehicles worldwide.
Rebuilder’s Automotive Supply (RAS) congratulated the nation’s recyclers in an email in December, saying “Keep up the good work! We Appreciate Our Canadian Customers!”, recognizing them for their hard work in tracing and collecting recalled Takata airbags circulating throughout the Canadian aftermarket.
Thus far, Canadian recyclers have recovered recalled airbags from Chevy/GMC/Cadillac trucks and SUVs, Honda, Nissan, the Pontiac Vibe, Saab, the Saturn Astra, Subaru and Toyota.
The Takata airbag recall was first launched in 2013.
GO FOR OARA
After two years without the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA) Convention and Trade Show, Steve Fletcher says the 2022 event will go ahead as planned.
The executive director of OARA said the Convention and Trade Show will take place from Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2 at the Hilton Mississauga/ Meadowvale hotel.
The event will kick off with the OARA Board of Directors meeting and an informal meet and greet on Thursday before diving into the Trade Show Friday and educational seminars Saturday.
So far, Fletcher said there are more than 40 vendors registered to attend the event; and after two years away, Ontario’s auto recyclers will be bursting with conversation.
For more information, or to register for this year’s OARA Convention and Trade Show, visit oara.com/events.
