A. van Schaik

The time-varying factors influencing the recycling rate of products

In Europe targets have been laid down by EU legislation for the recycling rate of end-of-life vehicles to be achieved within the nearby future. It is illustrated in this paper that the definition of the recycling rate and the realisation of the imposed targets are very much dependent on different parameters such as the changing lifetime of the product and product design. It may seem obvious that the recycling rate is determined by various time-varying factors, however, this paper endeavours to describe and quantify the role of these factors on the recycling rate over time by the use of a dynamic systems model. This model permits the prediction of the recycling rate as a function of the numerous presented parameters, changing design scenarios etc. In addition, different definitions of the recycling rate will be presented and discussed. This will lead to a better understanding of the parameters affecting the recycling system and a more precise understanding of the recycling targets and their realisation as imposed by EU legislation. This paper focuses on cars, but the discussion and the definitions derived are equally valid for any end-of-life product.

Dynamic modelling and optimisation of the resource cycle of passenger vehicles

This paper discusses a dynamic optimisation model for the recycling of cars. Various case studies will illustrate the application of the model to the recycling of aluminium cast and wrought, steel, copper, remainder, which includes the organic fraction. The scope of the dynamic model covers the complete path of product design and manufacturing, the use-phase, mechanical recycling and metal recovery back to the product. The optimisation model determines the recovery rate and covers in detail the processing of the end-of-life vehicle, starting from dismantling, shredding, and various separation steps, including the metal production once again.

Material and Metal Ecology

The complex interaction between the ‘nature, design, and resource cycles’ is discussed. By defining on first principles the ‘web of metals’ and the ‘design wheel’, the complex relationship between the ‘resource and design cycle’ can be captured by computer-aided design (CAD) tools. The basis for this description are dynamic models as well as system optimization models that define the flow of metals, materials, particles, liberated and unliberated material between the various stakeholders of the ‘original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) and, respectively, the metallurgical process, recycling, resource-recovery industries. At the basis of the models are physics, chemistry, and thermodynamics and the concepts of industrial ecology. All this is illustrated by industrial examples by the authors which show the application of the theory to the design and recycling of automobiles.