End of Life Vehicles Directive
The EC End of Life Vehicles Directive aims to reduce the amount of waste from vehicles when they are finally scrapped.
Around two million vehicles reach the end of their life in the UK each year. These vehicles are classed as hazardous waste until they have been fully treated. Currently, over 80 per cent of the weight of a typical vehicle is re-used or recycled.
The directive requires ELV treatment sites to meet stricter environmental standards. The last owner of a vehicle is to be issued with a Certificate of Destruction for their vehicle and from the beginning of 2007, they must be able to dispose of their vehicles free of charge. Vehicle manufacturers and importers must cover all or most of the cost of the free take-back system.
It also sets higher reuse, recycling and recovery targets and limits the use of hazardous substances in both new vehicles and replacement vehicle parts.
In the UK, the directive is implemented through ELV Regulations issued in 2003 and 2005. The 2003 regulations deal with treatment standards, site licensing and restricting the use of hazardous substances in new vehicles. The 2005 regulations cover recycling targets and free-take-back for ELVs.
The directive applied to cars, vans and certain three-wheeled vehicles. The 2003 regulations extended the treatment requirements in the UK to all waste motor vehicles (including coaches, buses, motor cycles, goods vehicles, etc)
- Who does it affect?
Many of the directive’s requirements apply to ‘producers’ of new vehicles, these are businesses that manufacture or import new motor vehicles. It also has implications for operators of sites that receive or treat ELVs. - Read the ELV directive in full
- What is our role?
We monitor licensed sites to ensure that they are treating ELVs correctly - Read the ELV Regulations 2003
- ELV's - Authorised Treatment Facilities - Public Register List
