Honda to recycle rare earths

Honda announced that this year it will begin recycling rare earths as well as other key materials used in hybrid auto batteries; another step towards the Japanese automaker’s effort to go green. Officials of the company said they will begin recycling of rare earths by September or October, stressing that it would be a first for the auto industry. Acknowledging the uncertainty of Japan’s energy policy for the future, Honda President Takanobu Ito said, “In the long term, we hope to move to renewable energy sources that won’t harm the environment.” The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant meltdown last year resulted in a nationwide shutdown of Japan’s 50 working reactors, which ignited public concern over the safety of nuclear technology and radiation contamination from Fukushima. Ito revealed Honda’s plans to help reduce pollution and global warming, which includes experimental projects that will combine solar energy with its fuel-cell cars. He said it is Honda’s dream to get energy entirely from nature and emit only water. Ito added that fuel cells, which are powered by the energy created when hydrogen combines with oxygen to produce water, are still too expensive for commercial use and will thus remain experimental. He stressed that for Soichiro Honda, founder of the company, the environment was a pet theme and he constantly reminded his employees that the automobile sector should share in the responsibility for reducing emissions. (June 21, 2012)