The recent "Cash for Clunkers" program was such a success that the auto recyclers who are supposed to crush them up are overwhelmed. They want the government to give them more time, and the government should give it to them.

According to the program, the clunkers are supposed to be crushed or shredded within six months of the date the vehicle is transferred from the dealership. But it takes time to do the job right, to drain the fluids and strip out valuable spare parts from the vehicles before they are crushed.

The recyclers, according to an AP report this week, have seen their workload double because of the program. They are hiring more help, but still will have a hard time meeting the deadline. They face thousands of dollars in fines if they are late.

The original six months deadline was developed to deal with vehicles generated by a $1 billion program. When the government upped the program payouts to $3 billion, the number of vehicles turned in tripled as well, putting an unexpected burden on the recyclers.

An extension would give the recyclers time to do the job properly. Taking out the transmissions, drive shafts, alternators and other usable parts for resale will cut back on the need to make spare parts from virgin materials, saving resources and energy in the manufacturing process. It makes no sense to crush them up to meet an unrealistic deadline.