Eco nightmare unearthed in Auckland wrecker yards

05 Nov 2009 10:16p.m.

AAA Auto Glass wrote:

AAA Auto Glass & Parts, recycling facility in Pilkington Road, Panmure have quality used parts, that are on the shelf after being through a strict process ensuring there is no damage to the environment. Yet offering the trade and public the best parts left from a damaged car or uneconomic vehicle to keep on road. There are many in the industry that care about the environment and the community we live in. Through our recycling process, many items such as a door glass or rear windscreen end up delivered and installed nationwide throughout New Zealand by our network of installers. Thus helping curb the demand on resources needed to produce new product. We look forward to ARC's role in making sure the environment is protected.

21 Sep 2009 10:18a.m.

Bruce Gledhill wrote:

Without effective controls on the final disposal of cars we are going to suffer the disasterous environmental results of rogues and ignorant indivuals. Ownership of a car should obligate us to dispose of it thoughtfully and with regard towards the environment - just like a lolly wrapper.

There a car wreckers that do dismantle using practices that that ensure safe recovery & management of the many complex contaminants in dead cars (just two examples are; heavy metals from inside the engine and from combustion accumulate in engine oil, PCBs are present in capacitors used in electrical and electronic systems)

The problem is that there is no recognition of this self imposed cost and so the good operator will struggle to compete in a very cost concious market.

In our nation of DIY people there has not been enough education around the hazards and risks one takes when dismantling or even servicing cars at home.

This is a serious problem of a significant scale. Even though there are businesses doing more than is required now a 'top down' solution is required.

Disposal is part of the cost of ownership - for anything.

The obligation to provide for disposal should be recognised from the moment the car is first purchased so that at the last moment there is funding in place to ensure they are properly cared for.

03 Sep 2009 12:57a.m.

mandango wrote:

I agree with CE, humans are the plague of the planet. ARC, Governments will not solve this problem or any other. WE, us humans, have to change our attitudes and stop creating the problems in the first place. As Deane says, most of us have no regard for anything but ourselves let alone the planet. Currently overseas living in a 3rd world country and people from 1st world country's (including frm NZ) visiting here talk often about how dirty it is here and how the people have no respect for the land. I try to point out to them that us kiwi's are no better. And that's all Kiwi's because if you do care about the planet but say use a place like these wreckers and ignore their disregard for the earth then you are no better then them. It's all of us, turning a blind eye to what goes on around us in our very neighborhoods that feed these problems. If we were all thoughtful about what we bought and were we did business and we could change overnight!

02 Sep 2009 08:26p.m.

ce wrote:

Human's really are a plague on the planet. We will end up wallowing in our own sh.. before expiring as a species. The planet will survive, I have serious doubts about the human race.

02 Sep 2009 06:22p.m.

Deane wrote:

That does not surprise me.
These people have no regard to anything let alone the environment. These are the type that regard environmentalists as "the nanny state" and that the regional council are "just a pack of beurocrats that get in the way". Infact they see this as a joke.

Now what is the govt going to do about it. Clearly the ARC has failed in policeing this problem. I think some serious prosecutions need to take place.