Leading International Automotive Recyclers and Officials gather ‘Down-Under!’

The automotive recycling international industry has successfully held its 4th annual International Round Table (IRT) Meeting in Australia, on 9-10 November, hosted by the Auto Parts Recyclers Association of Australia (APRAA) in conjunction with the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA).

The IRT Meeting took place in beautiful Coffs Harbour, located on the New South Wales’ scenic coastline. The meeting was held following, and linked to, the acclaimed 2008 APRAA National Conference and Trade Show.

Representatives at the International Round Table discussed a number of automotive recycling issues and concerns affecting recyclers globally. The matters discussed and the outcomes agreed included:

• an agreement to pursue the development of an internationally recognised recycled green parts logo, building on work already underway in North America;
• a decision to continue to promote the use of recycled green parts to further promote the use of recycled parts to the community, particularly younger consumers;
• all Associations agreed that there was a continuing need to promote an understanding by governments of the automotive recycling sector;
• improving industry quality and standards, promoting leading practice environmental activities;the vital role that environmentally conscious automotive recyclers play in processing the many millions of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) being retired each year from roads across the globe, decommissioning ELVs of fluids and contaminants, maximising recycled parts reuse and playing a key role in the materials recycling waste stream process; and
• the opportunities to improve recycled parts usage through working more effectively with insurance companies and the vehicle service and repair sectors.

Associations represented at the 2008 IRT Meeting included:

• ARA (USA)
• ARC (Canada)
• JARA (Japan)
• APRAA (Australia)

The IRT was attended by recyclers from Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Hungary, Sweden and Germany.

At the close of the 2008 IRT Meeting, the international associations, members and officials unanimously pledged to continue the global campaign to improve the industry image, quality and recognition of the vital role automotive recyclers perform within the community.