6 WHEELS January 13 2011 Oil-soaked plastic boom material used to soak up oil in the Gulf of Mexico is finding new life as auto parts in the Chevrolet Volt. General Motors has developed a method to convert an estimated 100 miles of the material off the Alabama and Louisiana coasts and keep it out of landfills. The ongoing project is expected to create enough plastic under hood parts Booms from Gulf oil disaster find new life in Chevrolet Volt to supply the first year production of the extended-range electric vehicle. Recycling the booms will result in the production of more than 100,000 pounds of plastic resin for the vehicle components, eliminating an equal amount of waste that would otherwise have been incinerated or sent to landfills. The parts, which deflect air around the vehicle's radiator, are comprised of 25 percent boom material and 25 per cent recycled tires from GM's Milford Proving Ground vehicle test facility. The remaining is a mixture of postconsumer recycled plastics and other polymers. The work in the Gulf is expected to last at least two more months and GM will continue to assist suppliers in collecting booms until the need no longer exists. General Motors has developed a method to convert oil-soaked, plastic absorbent booms floating in the Gulf of Mexico into parts for the Chevrolet Volt. The combination of these materials can be combined to create airflow management components for the Volt. YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SHOP SMART... SHOP HALTON HILLS SHOPLOCAL LOCAL DEALER ... it s smart to BUY your next vehicle from a SHOP SMART... SHOP HALTON HILLS 905.873.0301