Air Bag/Inflator Recycling/Disposal (ABIRD) Committee

Mission Statement:The Air Bag/Inflator Recycling/Disposal (ABIRD) Subcommittee endeavors to investigate, develop and disseminate information to support End-of Life Vehicle (ELV) activities related to automotive occupant restraint components. These activities include the following general areas:
•  general product and safe handling information
•  environmental best practices
•  disposal and metal recycling options
•  applicable regulatory requirements
•  and other pertinent useful data deemed appropriate

Recent Activities:
•  Single Point Deployment - As a committee we are in favor of the Airbag Deployment via Onboard-Diagnostic system. Committee member Laura Brandt of TRW is a member of the group responsible for its development. She gives the committee regular progress reports.
•  Committee members representing ARA and ISRI continue to request more information about scrapping and disposal of air bag modules. They have asked that AORC update the Automotive Recyclers Air Bag Training video published by ARA and AORC in 1997. With the many new technologies that have come out since 1997, the video is out of date. The ABIRD committee does not want to redo the video but we fill that we can and should provide updated and additional information on our web site. We are currently working with a consultant to publish a fact sheet on scrapping/disposal of air bag inflators and seatbelt pretensioners.
•  ECCAT (Electronic Compendium of Compliance Assistance Tools) is an EPA web site that we have found to contain inaccurate information. We are working on getting the information on this site corrected.
•  The committee is currently working with the AORC web master to improve the availability of correct handling and recycling/disposal information.

Future and Current Projects/Programs/Objectives:
•  Provide accurate recycle/disposal information to groups and the general public through the AORC web site.
•  Track progress and encourage progress of the Airbag Deployment via Onboard-Diagnostic system.
•  Investigate and track regulatory issues around end of life vehicles and their safety restraint devices.

ABIRD Committee Meeting - August 9, 2005

ABIRD Committee Meeting - November 14, 2006