Climate and Environmental Protection - Decreasing Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Gas Emissions in Transportation - page 234

Recycling and climate balance

Development Production Use Disposal

Build recoverability
into design

Rubber recycling
and reuse

Waste collection
system by dealers

Using shredder
residue effectively

Resin recycling and
reuse

Replacing and re-
manufacturing parts

Battery recycling
system

Design for recycling

Use of recycled
materials

Fig. 15.7 Recycling and climate balance

vehicles, such as steel and aluminum, light plastics, composite, and fiber glass
strengthened materials are increasingly used and recycling them requires a specific
technology; see Fig. 15.7 [ 42 ].
Light construction plastic materials on average require a higher level of energy
in the production process than considerable metal products. That is the reason why
plastic elements of road vehicles, airplanes, and ships are usually difficult to
recycling and need a very long time to decomposing. There are still a lot of open
questions for future development in production and recycling of light construction
materials.

15.6.2 Recycling of Airplanes

As airplanes are very expensive, most of them are typically leased for 20-40 years.
Very few go back into service after a long lease because evolving aerospace
technology leaves older airplanes unable to compete against newer airplanes,
which can be operated at a lower cost with decreased fuel consumption.
To protect the environment, professional decommissioning and recycling of
older aircraft will increase in the future. There are no regulations for recycling
airplanes. Many of them stay in the desert. Expensive equipment for aircraft, e.g.,
navigation and safety devices are often collected and utilized in special second
uses [ 43 ].
The self-obligation of aviation companies is moving in the right direction.
Many of them wanted to realize 50% recycling or more. In the future, legislation
should be similar to cars and 90-95% of all parts of an airplane should be recycled.