IN MEMORIAM
The Canadian automotive recycling community is saddened to learn of the passing of Clarence “Cuppy” Katz, former president of the Automotive Dismantlers and Recyclers Association (ADRA) and all-around friend of the industry.
As one of the first Canadians to ever head up the ADRA, an instrumental member of the Canadian Auto Recycler Hotline group, in addition to co-owning Dominion Auto Wreckers alongside his brother Bernie, Katz was a trail-blazer in many respects and will be dearly missed by those who knew him. Katz’s nephew Benjy reached out to Canadian Auto Recycler over email, describing his uncle as “singularly instrumental in building the auto recycling industry in Canada to everyone’s benefit.”
“He was not only proud of his involvement in the industry but also appreciative of the good friendships he made from his participation.” “Beloved husband of Elaine. Father and father-in-law of David & Roberta Katz, Carolyn Katz & Reuben Segelbaum. Cherished grandfather of Rebecca a’h, Noah, and Maxine. Brother and brother-in-law of Bernie and Rhoda a’h Katz, Helen Greenbaum, Ted a’h and Merle Rachlin,” read a portion of Katz’s bereavement notice.
A NEW LEAF ON LIFE
What once powered a Nissan Leaf may soon be powering homes in the San Francisco Bay area, as the Japanese automaker signed a deal with energy storage startup Relyion Energy to give a second life to retired batteries of the popular EV. Surinder Singh, CEO and co-founder of Relyion, spoke with Business Insider about the opportunity being left on the table when we prematurely recycle EV batteries.
“A majority of these batteries actually have a very good state of health that is left over once the car is retired, but they’re just not suitable for cars anymore,” he said. “They can be of very good use on the stationery and energy storage side. “Why would somebody prematurely kill them rather than utilizing them for a very long period of time?” he added.
“These batteries can last for 15 to 20 years in addition to, let’s say, the ten years that they were in operation in the car. It makes a lot more sense to utilize them for as long as possible, and then at the end of the day, when they reach their true end of life, then recycle them.” The plan is for Nissan to source batteries from end-of-life Leaf vehicles and ship them over to Relyion, from which point they will be integrated into large energy storage systems.Relyion says it expects to be offering residential energy options in the second half of 2023.
WATCH FOR BROKEN GLASS
Pennsylvania-based building materials company, Saint-Gobain North America and its glazing subsidiary Saint-Gobain Sekurit, recently launched recycling programs in California that aim to repurpose old auto glass into new fibreglass insulation for homes. Through a collaboration with Danish recycling company, Shark Solutions, glass waste produced at Saint-Gobain Sekurit’s Garden Grove, California. Facility will be diverted from the landfill to fellow Saint-Gobain subsidiary CertainTeed Insulation’s facility in Chowchilla, California, to be used as an ingredient in fibreglass insulation.
CAR-Z’S CHARITY
Sam Kanoun of CarZ Auto Recycling donated the business’s ProgiPix auction fees generated between February 9 and February 17 toward Turkey-Syria earthquake relief efforts.
When announcing the initiative, Kanoun said keeper, buyer and storage fees earned over the eight-day period would be donated to Relief Humanity International.
“We are all humans and should help each other,” he said. “Disasters like this mobilize people and I want others to join me in helping the victims of the earthquake in Turkey/Syria. Right now, we can make a difference.” Kanoun also notes that other organizations, like Red Cross, are gathering tax-deductible donations for the cause.
