Shredding Late Model Chrysler Vehicles, ASR Sample Collection and Characterization of ASR

Most studies on the properties and recycling of automotive shredder residue (ASR) have been carried out without fully understanding the composition of the input scrap. Equally important is understanding the type of shredding process, and types of processes utilized for separation of ferrous and non-ferrous metals from the shredded material. The Vehicle Recycling Partnership (VRP) has been conducting a project:“Study of Plastic Material Recovery From Automotive Shredder Residue” [1]. One of the objectives of this VRP project is to determine the relationship between the shredder input and ASR properties. A 1995 Dodge Stratus was dismantled in detail to obtain information necessary for the project, such as material usage in the vehicle [2]. Then, under tightly controlled conditions, 14 late model Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus automobiles were shredded and processed. In addition, 15 randomly selected “end-of-life” vehicles (ELV) (hulks) were also shredded and processed under the controlled conditions for comparison. The shredder and separation equipment were cleaned prior to shredding the late model vehicles. All processed materials, (including ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals stream, fines, and ASR) were collected and their weights were determined and recorded. Fines and ASR samples generated during processing of the shredder “routine” scrap were also collected. The input of “routine” scrap was 70 wt% ELV vehicles and 30 wt% other scrap (industrial, appliances, and other household scrap). This paper presents the details of the shredding experiments, including preparation of the shredding equipment, ASR collection, screening, and sampling for various analysis. Some of analytical results and the influence of sampling methods on analytical results were discussed.