Recyclable Cars

Never dawned on me this, till I chanced on this article; that cars are the world's most recycled product. Guess it was just something that I never thought about; perhaps cars that pass away go to heaven? Haha.

Read on!

---

Recyclable Cars
Cars are (surprisingly) the world's most recycled product. Find out which parts of your car end up as landfill, and which parts don't
By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor, DriverSide.com
Posted 09.05.2009 at 5:18 am
Original article found here.

Each year, around 10 million vehicles are disposed of in the United States. Before vexing your conscience though, you should know that over 95 percent of these “retired” cars head straight to one of the 7,000 vehicle recycling operations around the country and 75 percent of these cars' parts are completely recycled, letting cars claim top spot as the world's most recycled product.

Metals
As the hottest commodity at the moment, steel, iron and other metals comprise about 65 percent of the average vehicle, making the reuse of this product vital to overall automotive recycling efforts. Although reuse of metals started alongside the advent of the automobile, they're more popular than ever before. With construction exploding in rapidly developing countries like China, traders are snatching metals up to sell, and some older cars are now actually worth more for their steel than for their originally intended ‘automotive’ function. Naturally this means, according to the Steel Recycling Institute, that virtually all of this material is recovered for reuse. Wheels, engines, transmissions, wiring and body shells get shredded and filtered by ferrous scrap processors and the material is then sold to steel mills. Your trashed ’79 El Camino could be having a second life as a part of an Indian skyscraper.

Batteries
70 percent of all lead now used in the U.S. is found in car batteries. Fortunately, we’ve known about the toxicity of lead for a while now and recycling systems have been in place for years. Some batteries have enough life to be reconditioned for resale, but the dead ones go to lead reclaiming plants where the toxic substance is extracted to use in new batteries.
“Nearly 90 percent of all lead-acid batteries are recycled,” confirms Latisha Petteway, Spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Almost any retailer that sells lead-acid batteries collects used batteries for recycling, as required by most state laws.”

Tires
In 2005, the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association estimated, based on U.S. census reports, that 299 million tires were discarded. That's a helluva lot of miles covered. Good news: 86 percent of that number was reused. While today’s tires are complex, they are also extremely recyclable. The rubber from old tires makes it into a multitude of materials, from pavements to playground covering. Some are used to create more tires, 16.255 million in 2005 were retreaded – though very few of those were for passenger cars, due to economic factors. They are also able to fuel cement kilns, boilers and paper mills as well.

Fluids
Oil, that fussy liquid which needs to be changed every few thousand miles, isn't just tossed away at lube shops. 380 million gallons are reused or recycled each year in America. It goes through a refining process and comes out squeaky clean (well, as clean as an oil can be) as a base stock for lubricating oil. The problem is that many do-it-yourselfers change their own oil, and the irresponsible ones send roughly 120 million gallons down the drain instead of taking it to a collection center, local auto parts store or garage.

Used gear oil, windshield wiper solution, brake fluid, power steering fluid, antifreeze and transmission fluid can contain some seriously toxic substances, including lead and the highly poisonous ethylene glycol. But if you drop it off at a collection site, each of these fluids can either be blended and utilized as an alternate fuel source or restored.

Truth is just like this.

Had to share, chanced upon this from a buddy's site, and Zen has been something that has been filling my headspace for a while. No us and thems, no then and next. Overheard once, and it made a lot of sense. "We have to question the motives of those who speak and reason in polarities", and this short sentence says quite a lot.

---

Original nature has no opposites. Speech and words are not necessary. Without thinking, all things are exactly as they are. Truth is just like this.

---

from "Dropping Ashes on the Buddha - the Teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn" compiled and edited by Stephen Mitchell

Up to some more cookin'

more cooking adventures.


Prawn Noodles. Tag team with Ron, and courtesy of Ling's auntie's soup base.


Pasta with crumbed oven-baked fish.

Days

from a birthday song a friend wrote. (not for me though) It's s'posed to a bit of a hush-hush affair, so I can't reveal too much of the lyrics. but in a nutshell, she writes with each new year, we wonder if there's a new floor, a new door, if they are new flaws. But somehow as we recollect our hindsight, we've all got one positive, we're one step closer to who we're truly meant to be. The sum of all these trials and tribulations, pains and joys we've accumulated to become who we are. And there is joy in that. What a journey.

"... and all of your days, they will walk with you."

beautiful.

Sharing.

It's been a while since I've shared thoughts, so here's one.

It came over a hotpot party I was attending. Got stuck into many a conversation, and when asked what I did, my answer was simple, but easily read as cryptic. I said, "I'm trying hard not to work."

A few faces of amazement, some of bewilderment, others of cynicism, I had to present my case.

I shared my understanding of the machinery civilized, patriotic folk are trapped in. The cycle of endless work, time bankruptcy, a life where true enjoyment of things around us are an occasion bonus facilitated by annual leave, or the sickie (come on we all do) could be broken by a simple (not to be misconstrued as simplistic), rule of thumb.

Breaking through the barrier of the 8-10 hour work day was the key. When we get the much vaunted first full-time job, we're trapped straight away. Case in point - how many activities can you engage in after coming home tired from work? Dinner, the odd movie out, the fortnightly drinks with buddies that do not end too late coz you've got to maximise the rest of the weekend?

I had a simple solution. By learning to make the best of the things I enjoy, I found a middle path. Gainful employment with a worthwhile pursuit, and the luxury of being free from the work day cycle. I now teach drums (3 regular students), give English tuition (4 regular students), work at a furniture chain selling sofas (twice a week), grow my own vegetables, work remotely for the academic institution as an academic associate, and pursue the PhD dream all at once; they are all things I enjoy and have come to know as an integral part of me. To top it off I play in two bands, and one's halfway through recording an album for release in Australia this year. My activities are blocked into no more than 2-3 hour chunks. Which means one simple thing - more time to do more things and enjoy the fruits of being alive. It's not been without his share of hitches and scary bank balances, but I am enjoying what I love doing. Been able to travel and wander around much too. Hence.

Trying hard not to work. Enjoying what I do, making a living out of it, and being free from 8-10 hour blocks, unless I choose to.

Of course I have more obligations than most, but heck. It can't be all too perfect. We're here on earth. Yes I lose out on medical benefits, the works, et al. Let's see how I can learn to find a middle path that'll incorporate that too.

Thanks for reading!

Eating at Home

Pita bread with two bean mix in Mexican Sauce + Bacon Special, with a hint of tabasco.

and.


Oven-baked soy garlic marinade chicken and beer basted chips.

The Vege Patch

Lettuce, turnips, beetroot, carrots and parsley! Doing fine despite the cold weather!

"There's a room somewhere with a different look."