The End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive aims to reduce the amount of waste produced from vehicles when they are 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.
What does the directive mean?
The directive requires ELV treatment sites to meet stricter environmental standards.
The last owner of a vehicle must be issued with a Certificate of Destruction for their vehicle and they must be able to dispose of their vehicle 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.
Who implements the directive?
In the UK, the directive is implemented through ELV Regulations issued in 2003 and 2005 and through the Environmental Permitting (EP) Regulations 2007.
The 2003 regulations deal with information requirements, certificate of destruction requirements, and restricting the use of hazardous substances in new vehicles. The 2005 regulations cover recycling targets and free take-back for ELVs.
The 2007 regulations extended the treatment requirements in the UK to all waste motor vehicles (including coaches, buses, motor cycles, goods vehicles, etc).
Guidance and information
We have developed guidance on the regulations for the storage and treatment of End of Life Vehicles.
