The Volkswagen-SiCon Process: Eco-efficient solution for future end-of- life vehicle treatment

The traditional treatment of end-of-life vehicles mainly focuses on de-pollution measures and metal recycling. The VW-SiCon process, presented here, was developed in order to meet the legal requirements, given by the European directive on end of life vehicles (2000/53/EC) under the pre-requisites of a sustainable development. The VW-SiCon process combines economical and ecological advantages compared to cost-intensive dismantling and subsequent mechanical recycling of parts. The VW-SiCon separation technology for shredder residues produces four major fractions (shredder-granulate, shredder-fibres, shredder-sand and a PVC fraction), dedicated mainly to feedstock recycling. An additional amount of non-ferrous metals is recovered as well out of shredder residues. The VW-SiCon process is a market driven approach and takes into account market potentials and customer requirements for the produced materials. The process can be adapted to the specific industrial infrastructure of most countries. All fractions produced in the VW-SiCon process can be utilized in existing industrial plants. Accompanying the technical development of the process, LCA studies of the VW-SiCon process were carried out to ensure the sustainability of the resulting approach. The environmental profile of the VW-SiCon process was compared with a dismantling scenario based on mechanical recycling. The VW-SiCon process has a better environmental performance with regard to all investigated impact categories (Global Warming, Acidification, Summersmog and Eutrophication). This study shows that the VW-SiCon approach is a promising and sustainable solution for the future end of life vehicle treatment. In Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands VW-SiCon plants are in use or under construction.