AUTOMOBILES

Big Three Launch Joint Recycling Program: General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Corp. have formed a partnership to conduct research on recycling materials from scrap automobiles. “Through the partnership, we hope to avoid duplication of effort and expense, while enhancing scientific knowledge about recycling,” said Sandy S. Labana, a Ford scientist who is chairing the partnership. About 75% of an auto is metal, which is recycled. The partnership will examine ways of recycling the remainder, which includes plastics, rubber, glass, fluids and fabric.