Owning a car is dream come true for many individuals, as this can improve time management, operational efficiency, protection against the harsh vices of the weather. Mobility is often associated with convenience as well as a sign of affluence in some countries. In developing countries, a large number of vehicles are being imported from countries Japan, United Kingdom, United States and Singapore. Brand new cars are also coming to great utility to those who can afford them. However, when people consider mobility and buying cars, very few consider what will happen to the vehicle, when it eventually reaches the end of its life cycle.
When vehicles reach to the end of their life cycle due to obsolescence, accident wreckages, fire damage or after irreversible wear and tear, there is a challenge in disposing the vehicle waste. The waste from vehicles can include scrap metal, leather, glass, used oil, filters, wood and other vehicle related components. Most garages do not have a clear strategy of how to handle vehicle scrap waste. Harare, has already seen an increase in the amount of scrap body waste in different parts of the city at garages and also in public places. If left unabated, the vehicle scrap problem shall worsen, with a resultant negative effects on environmental quality in the Sunshine City.
In developed countries, there is a clear framework of disposing and recycling used vehicles. This enables recovery of materials as well as extraction of valuable components. The process of recycling used cars and vehicles at the end of their life cycle requires conscious efforts in dealing with heavy metals such as lead which can be potentially neurotoxic to nervous systems of young children. Oils from vehicles can have dioxins, furans and benzofurans, which can bio-accumulate in body fatty tissue around the heart and the liver.
Vehicle manufacturers, governments and organisations in the automobile sector, should collaborate in order to develop a strategy for dealing with the waste generated at the end of the life cycle of vehicles.
Many spots where vehicle scrap can be found include backyard garages, road vedges, shopping centres and along some highway roadsides. The issue of quality assurance is very important in vehicle importation policy, to ensure that vehicles which are durable are allowed to get import permission. There are certain vehicles which fold inside towards the body, by merely just leaning on the fender. Such vehicle species are adding onto the burden of vehicle end of life waste as they flake off after even the slightest of impact. Harare’s scrap body challenge is slowly emerging unnoticed and there is an increased call by environmentalists to strengthen control of end of vehicle life cycle management in order to deal with waste. Integrated solid waste management and new measures of dealing with waste area possible ways of dealing with the issue.
