In the 1980s, large-scale illegal dumping of automotive shredder dust occurred due to a shortage of final disposal sites for such dust. In response, the Ministry of International Trade Industry (the present Ministry of Economy and Industry):METI drew up the Used Automobile Recycling Initiative in May 1997, to encourage proper recycling and disposal.
Following METI's action, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JAMA) established a voluntary action project called the "Automobile Recycling Initiative" in February 1998. Mitsubishi Motors introduced the "Mitsubishi Motors Recycling Initiative" in the same month.
In the Mitsubishi Motors Recycling Initiative, we set targets and continued improving the ease of recycling, reducing the use of lead (except for batteries), and introducing recycled parts (bumpers, interior substrate materials, floor mats, etc.) for new vehicles. In line with this unique guideline, we consider ease of recycling from the initial stage of designing and developing products, and have achieved our voluntary target values.
Dealing with Automobile Recycling Acts of Other Countries
Since the Automobile Recycling Law was enforced in Japan in 2005, automotive manufacturers have been properly recycling shredder dust of discarded automobiles, airbags and freons (3 items), thus helping to create a recycling-based society.
The ELV Directive (2003) was enacted in Europe as well, specifying ease of recycling as a certification requirement and promoting recyclable design.
We will comply step-by-step with automobile recycling regulations which are now being introduced in developing countries in Asia.