Value analysis of disposal strategies for automobiles

Alternative disposal strategies for vehicle design with varying relative proportions of materials, are explored using goal programming to analyze the tradeoffs between technological, economic, and environment factors. Two vehicle designs - one based on a steel unibody and the other more intensively designed with polymer materials - were selected for investigation. The preliminary results indicate that if properly controlled, the current automobile recycling infrastructure in the U.S. can remain economically viable while improving with respect to environmental considerations. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.