08May
Waubonsee Community College created the Automotive Recycling course with support of the IGEN Career Pathways Program. This course takes students through the End-of-Life process which includes how these vehicles are acquired, environmental best practices when dismantling vehicles, and finding value in parts and scrap metal.
Waubonsee’s Automotive Recycling program was one of the first college courses to instruct students on the proper and most efficient ways to manage End-of-Life vehicles. It has now given Automotive Technology students another option to follow when finding what career will work best for them. Students who engage in automotive recycling coursework learn first-hand what it takes to not only work at an automotive recycling facility, but how the knowledge and skills acquired can make them well-rounded, environmentally conscious technicians.
The automotive recycling program is a great opportunity for students to focus on green technologies that prioritize the environment and embraces sustainability in the automotive industry. The Automotive Recycling program was developed from a small introductory course that introduced students to auto recycling. The course has undergone several improvements since the original inception, including the addition of “De-Polluting” equipment, a more detailed and expanded curriculum, and more participation from automotive recycling industry employer partners and advisors.
Student response has gained momentum now that more people are learning the importance of managing old vehicles and the opportunities that are in the automotive recycling industry. The college also received equipment with grant funds. This equipment purchased includes:
- A “de-polluting” station to safely remove fluids
- Mobile work tables that catch fluids that result during engine and drivetrain disassembly
- Mobile support dollies that allow dismantled vehicles to be moved
- Forklift for moving large parts and parts bins
- Glass removal tools
- General tools and tool sets for dismantling