As the Prius has shown for Toyota, there’s something to going green. Because of the thrifty four-door, most people don’t even realize that Toyota produces behemoths like the Sequoia and Land Cruiser. General Motors has picked up on this fact and will soon produce its own green machine, but before the Volt even hits the market, GM is working to clean up its act.
GM announced on Friday that it will convert 80 of its largest global manufacturing plants into “landfill-free” facilities. To earn the title of landfill-free, the plants will have to recycle all production waste or garbage, according to Automotive News.
“As we develop new solutions in vehicle propulsion, GM is also making significant progress in reducing the impact of our worldwide facilities,” Gary Cowger, GM group vice president of global manufacturing and labor, said.
Not only will going landfill-free boost GM’s green credentials, but it will also put a little extra coin in the automaker’s pocket. Global recycling generates about $1 billion in revenue every year, with GM slated to make $16 million on the recycling of cardboard, metal, wood, oil and plastic in North America alone this year. GM’s recycling efforts will also keep over 3 million tons of waste from ending up in landfills.
No word on a completion date for the project.
09/05, 4:03 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I heard this on the radio this morning. That’s a lofty goal. I hope they can pull it off.
09/05, 4:34 PM
posted by:
Patriot
A lofty goal indeed, but it will no doubt keep GM in a competitive position for what has decidedly become a massive shift in market expectations.
09/05, 4:53 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
EGGcellent. This is yet another area where I’d like to see each and every manufacturer succeed in.
09/05, 5:05 PM
posted by:
speedemon
Subaru has been doing this for years
09/05, 5:17 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
Thats good. All car companies should do this.
09/06, 10:40 AM
posted by:
olds307
jesus ****in chrst the PRIUS ISN”T “GREEN” How can anyone call anything that uses a ton of batteries like that “green”!!??
09/06, 10:56 AM
posted by:
injunraiv
olds - it’s because they ‘think’ it’s green, not becasue it actually is. Like it or not, Toyota has become the poster child of green because of the Prius. It pisses me off too, but you can’t fight people’s feelings with facts.
09/07, 6:31 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Olds, injunraiv, you’re as ignorant as they come. Every single part of those batteries can be recycled. How is that not greener than and Oldsmobile ever made? Oh, that’s right, they don’t make those anymore.
09/08, 7:45 PM
posted by:
olds307
CAN be recycled………….. reality will be different… trust me I’m in the business I know what goes on……especially when you consider NYC is mandating all taxis to be hybrid by 2012…. you think Punjab 24 Hour Taxi Repair cares about properly disposing of batteries???
My Oldsmobile is greener than any Prius because it was manufactured 28 years ago, meaning that so far it’s lasted 3 times the life of the average car and that’s 2 cars that didn’t need to be manufactured and 2 cars that didn’t have to be scrapped, along with whatever impact on the environment manufacturing and scrapping a car has.