Time to retire your ride?
News
Posted 1 month ago
Jasmine Franklin
Globe Staff
Getting rid of older vehicles can be a process — but thanks to a government initiative, people thinking of retiring their older model vehicles from 1995 or earlier can receive benefits.
"Older vehicles produce almost 20 times more pollution than 2004 models," said Scott Cunningham, promotional representative for the program.
"Retire Your Ride," is a vehicle-recycling program designed by the federal government to help get old vehicles off the road as a way of reducing environmental pollutants. In exchange for giving up the old wheels, participants are offered transit passes in select areas, discounts on new bicycle's or $300 cash back.
The two-year-old program has already had a significant impact throughout the nation.
Between January 2009 and June of this year, more than 89,000 vehicles were recycled across Canada, almost 7,000 of which were from Alberta.
The program's goal is to retire about 50,000 vehicles every year until March 2011.
Once cars are entered in the program, they are taken to a recycling facility where a pre-treatment and drainage of the vehicle occurs. Followed by part dismantling and re-use process then the recycling of materials.
To qualify for the program, vehicles must be from 1995 or older and be able to start and move. The vehicle must be fully insured and registered in the participant's name for the past six months.
The weight of the vehicle must be less than 8,500 lbs and must be complete with no parts removed. Parking fees and tickets must be paid off before donating the vehicle.
