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Car scrap dealers have traditionally broken up vehicles for spare parts and sent the remains for crushing and melting down. New European legislation has now come into force to improve the recyclability of vehicles and minimise the environmental impact of disposal.
The End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC) came into force on 21 October 2000 and into UK law in November 2003. The Directive requires EU Member States (including the UK) to:
Ensure that all End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) are only treated by authorised dismantlers
Provide free take-back of all ELVs for all vehicles
Restrict the use of heavy metals in vehicles from July 2003
Ensure that a minimum of 85% of vehicles are reused or recovered (including energy recovery) and at least 80% must be reused or recycled increasing to a 95% reused or recovered (including energy recovery) and 85% reused or recycled by 2015
It also requires the 'de-pollution' of vehicles before being recycled. This involves extracting petrol, diesel, brake fluid, engine oil, antifreeze, batteries, airbags, mercury-bearing components and catalysts.
Under these Regulations the last owner must dispose of their vehicle at an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), i.e. a vehicle dismantler/scrap dealer who has upgraded their facility to meet the new standards, has the new licence, can issue a Certificate of Destruction (CoD), depollutes the vehicle and removes certain items for reuse and recycling.
When handing your vehicle over, an ATF must issue you with a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). This is your proof the vehicle has been taken off the road and destroyed, and will be required by the DVLA to cancel your road tax and vehicle registration. Only a fully licensed ATF, which is registered with the Environment Agency may issue a CoD.
Car parts that wear out during a vehicle's working life, such as tyres, batteries, oil, and catalytic converters should also be disposed of properly through approved treatment centres. It is estimated that up to 50% of the 20,000 tonnes of oil removed from vehicles by motorists is handled improperly. If oil finds its way into sewers and water courses it can cause significant contamination. Look out for products made from recycled car parts (e.g. porous hosepipes, carpet underlay, pencil cases etc. made from scrapped tyres).
Recycleyourcar.co.uk can help you find your nearest Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), and gives further information about how and why you need to take care in disposing of your vehicle.
References
Vehicle Certification Agency: Information on car fuels, exhaust emissions and reducing impacts through good driving behaviour.
Information on End of life vehicle and tyre recycling
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