Toyota is racing to make its cars at least as recyclable as those of its European rivals, Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler. The Japanese automaker announced yesterday that the vehicles it produces in Japan and Europe should be at least 85 percent recyclable by 2006 and 95 percent recyclable by 2016, up from 83 percent today. The move will help Toyota expand its market share in Europe, where tough recycling rules are on the books. It will also help the company reduce harmful waste and cut costs by reusing parts from old vehicles. Toyota reused 23,000 components from old cars in 2002 and intends to boost that figure tenfold by 2010.
