Half of GM sites 'to be landfill-free by 2010'

Car manufacturing giant General Motors (GM) has announced plans for half of its manufacturing plants across the world to have landfill-free status by 2010.

The company said 33 of its operations had recently attained this status, bringing the total number to 43, with the company speeding up its efforts to reduce the impact of its sites on the environment.

It noted its facilities are designated as landfill-free when all production and other waste at the site is reused or recycled.

At such plants, 96 per cent of waste materials are recycled while over three per cent are converted to energy.

GM reports that eliminating waste to this level is a priority of the firm.

Gary Cowger, vice-president of global manufacturing and labour at GM, said: "Through innovation and commitment, GM is accelerating our efforts to be a leader in finding solutions to the environmental issues facing our world."

Last week, GM joined forces with the US Environmental Protection Agency for the largest ever market test of hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles.