Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/118161
DriveSmart: Spew on This Are lack of incentives and a tough economy driving motorists to recycle — rather than retire — their old rides? I t sits in my driveway like an environmental albatross around my neck. The 1994 Dodge Dakota pickup truck was such a boon when I inherited it a year ago. Trips to the dump, the storage locker and the compost depot have all been easier thanks to my dad's old truck. I love the nastiness of its V8 rumble and the freedom to abuse the battle-scarred workhorse. Every new kilometre added to its 313,000-plus total seems like a gift. But nagging at my conscience has been the knowledge that it is a vehicular embarrassment for a family conscientious about recycling, one that took the trouble to install energy-efficient doors and windows, a new furnace and upgraded insulation. According to Natural Resources Canada, my rusty, trusty pickup contributes more than 7,200 kilograms of CO2 emissions a year to the environmental crisis. A brand-new model would only put out 6,480 kg. In fact, my '94 Dodge is the perfect example of the vehicles targeted by such programs as B.C.'s non-profit ScrapIt initiative and government's time-limited Retire Your Ride. Launched in early 2009 with a $92-million federal budget, the latter aimed to get at least 50,000 older vehicles off the road and into the scrap yard by March 31, 2011. In fact, it retired 137,783, led by Ontario, Quebec and B.C. Yet even with the province-wide Scrap-It program for pre-1996 vehicles continuing to lead the way in reducing emissions, there is still a long way to go. Ottawa estimates that of the roughly 20 million personal-use vehicles on the road in Canada, about five million are older than 1995. That's a problem because vehicles of that age (especially those even older than my ride) can emit up to 19 times more pollutants than models made after 2004. Newer vehicles conform to stricter emission standards and employ newer technology to achieve better fuel efficiency; gas mileage goes up and pollution goes down. Meanwhile, despite a worrying slump Paul Sinkewicz p18-19_DriveSmart.indd 19 post-2008 and the financial meltdown, newcar sales appear to be again gaining traction in Canada, with demand for Ford's fuelefficient cars fueling its best June sales in more than two decades. (This despite a slip in truck sales, long Ford's strong suit.) GM and Chrysler also reported a surge in summer 2011 sales, with rising gas costs and employee pricing incentives likely part of the equation. That said, it's important to keep in mindthat government figures for new-car performance are rarely matched by real-world driving results. The fuel-efficiency numbers touted by auto dealers are best-case scenarios, and, as vehicles age, regular maintenance becomes more important in maximizing efficiency. The older the vehicle, the more likely it is not achieving anywhere near its rated performance when new and the more likely the owner is less able to afford to maintain it properly. In fact, a J.D. Power study – conducted during the tougher economic climate of 2009 – shows that the recession in Canada curtailed drivers' vehicle maintenance spending by seven per cent. The average amount spent on maintenance and repairs was $856 in 2009, compared to $920 in 2008. And that means it's more important than ever to get those five million older vehicles – the worst polluters – off the road. –Paul Sinkewicz The Bottom Line Matters ■ THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT SCRAP-IT initiative continues to offer those retiring their pre-1996 vehicles a rebate toward the purchase or lease of a newer vehicle, a nine-month TransLink threezone MultiPass (or one-year ECOPASS in Victoria), up to $500 toward a new bike, West Coast Express pass options, a $750 car-sharing or ride-sharing credit, or $300 cash. scrapit.ca ■ THE RETIRE YOUR RIDE PROGRAM (now itself retired) led some to question government's environmental resolve. Its incentives varied widely by province, and none were extravagant. Drivers in all jurisdictions were eligible for just $300 in cash — though in B.C., the 18,854 motorists who turned in a clunker under the program could also apply for Scrap-It's $700 toward a new bike, a year's worth of Lower Mainland transit passes (two years' worth in Victoria) or a $1,000 car-sharing credit; as well, those buying or leasing new could get up to $1,250 toward the cost. retireyourride.ca/home/aspx ■ IF INCENTIVES ARE NOT considered the strength of either program, recycling is. About 75 per cent of a vehicle can be recycled, with fuel, oil and toxins stripped out and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner, parts to be sold for reuse saved, and the rest sent to the scrap yard for recycling. —P.S. WESTWORLD >> FA L L 2 0 1 1 19 8/17/11 12:14:35 PM