Turners Auctions To Clean Up NZ Roads

Turners Auctions has today launched a unique initiative to help clean up New Zealand’s roads by removing old environmentally unfriendly vehicles from operation.

The initiative, running from today until the end of January 2008, will provide New Zealanders with the opportunity to sell their old, unsafe, broken down or de-registered vehicles through Turners Damaged Vehicle Auctions for free, with all proceeds from the sale going to the vehicle’s owner.

Turners CEO Graham Roberts says the company has become increasingly concerned with environmental issues associated with used vehicles and as such, is introducing a number of new initiatives to address the problem.

“There were almost 92,000 vehicles written off by insurers or rendered unusable last year and a further 82,000 with lapsed registrations. These vehicles represent a devastating impact on the environment if they aren’t recycled or disposed of in the correct manner. The government has been very focused on controlling the quality of brand new and second hand vehicles coming into New Zealand, however we feel it is equally important to focus on the existing fleet here.

“Older cars are well known to be poorly maintained, less fuel efficient and emit more harmful emissions than newer vehicles. This initiative is one way that Turners can help people to get these problem cars off the road and give them some money in the process,” says Mr Roberts.

Turners is currently working with government organisations on a number of environmental projects around emission standards and fuel economy ratings to be introduced later this year.

As a part of the initiative Turners will be proactively communicating with vehicle dismantlers to recycle and dispose of all vehicles purchased in an environmentally friendly way. Even some old wrecks can command more than $200 in scrap metal.

"This initiative will clean up not only our roads, but our air quality as well, as vehicles in the bottom tier of the New Zealand fleet are not only encouraged to be taken off our roads, but are disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. I commend Turners on this initiative," Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard said.

For information on this service please call your local Turners branch or visit www.turners.co.nz. If the vehicle can’t be moved, Turners will arrange for it to be picked up for free as long as it is within 30km of a Turners branch (conditions apply).

ENDS

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