Date:         Fri, 3 Dec 1999 12:05:48 -0500
Reply-To:     Martin Jagersand <jager@PEREGRINE.CS.JHU.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Martin Jagersand <jager@PEREGRINE.CS.JHU.EDU>
Subject:      VW Parts recycling and social effects. Was: Throw-away society
Comments: To: gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM

On the soapbox:

I guess when it comes to recycling, the auto sector is for a change
on the environmental fore-front. Newer junked cars are stripped in
an efficient industrialized fashion and parts are computer indexed
and stored for quick retreival. Medium old cars get hauled to the
junk yard and indexed with year, model, and major options in the
recycler magazines. The too old or odd ones might get crushed or at
best end up at a low tech u-pull it.

All these operations provide valuable local jobs in communities, and
opportunities to start and grow a salvage or rebuilding business,
without drawing much additional natural resources.

Contrast this to the production of new cars and parts. It's typically
centralized to a few places so few communities benefit. Profits line the
pockets of out of town owners, instead of feeding and educating the
families of the small business owner and associates.

Every buying decision is also a political statement. Support big business
or local guys?

End soapbox mode.


> Cary, NC is the worst. Just last week, I watched from my VANAGON window as
> they crumpled an entire, complete 1930's house. Not an abandoned dump mind
> you. Recently occupied. EVERYTHING went to the landfill, including about
> 2,000 square feet of Maple T&G floor, Beautiful doors, windows, fixtures,
> baseboards, everything. Lots of stuf that could have been transported in my
> VANAGON. Nothing was stripped, no apparent attempt to advertise that it
> would be torn down (come pick and pull). DUH!
>
> This, from a city that mandates "recycling", (it is against the law to
> throw certain things in the garbage). They are so stupid. Nuf said.
>
> G. Matthew Bulley