Each year more than a million vehicles that have been taken off the road are being dealt with illegally. In a report by Clean Green Cars in November last year, it was revealed that more than half of cars taken off of the road may not have been de-polluted and recycled in accordance with European legislation. With potentially huge ramifications for the environment, the pressure is growing on UK authorities to crackdown on rogue scrap merchants and it is becoming imperative for car owners to be aware of the legislation when scrapping their vehicle. The legislation governing the scrappage of vehicles in the UK is the European Union’s End of Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive. The Directive, which came into effect in 2003, aims to make vehicle dismantling and recycling more environmentally friendly and sets clear guidelines and quantified targets for the reuse, recycling and de-pollution of vehicles. 

 

 

Under the directive at least 85% of a vehicle’s weight must be reused or recovered and at least 80% of a vehicle’s weight must be reused or recycled. By 1 January 2015 these figures will rise to 95% and 85% respectively. It is estimated that prior to the introduction of the Directive approximately 75% of a vehicles weight was being re-used or recycled. The remaining 25%, which mostly comprised of plastic, glass, foam and rubber and generally considered unsuitable and uneconomical for recycling, was being put in to landfill.

 

 

There are several important stipulations pertaining to the de-pollution and removing of hazardous components from salvage vehicles, such as air bags, fluids, batteries, heavy metals and tires. The most important governs what hazardous components need to be removed from the vehicle and securely contained.

The Directive also includes strict guidelines relating to the storage and containment of the vehicle and its potentially dangerous parts. In addition to treating vehicles on impermeable surfaces, adequate provisions must be made for the collection of liquids that may spill out of the vehicle during the de-pollution process. Once removed, all potentially hazardous components must be stored in a way that precludes their interaction with the local environment. The fluids removed as part of the depollution, including the remaining petrol, can total as much as 22 litres per car, meaning millions of litres of hazardous liquids could be seeping in to areas surrounding illegal scrap yards and our water supplies.

As a final guarantee it is also essential that treatment facilities possess water treatment equipment should any liquids seep in to surrounding bodies of water.

 

 

It remains to be seen whether improved enforcement of European legislation and the tightening of vehicle registration practise will make a significant dent in the number of illegally scrapped cars. Therefore it is highly important that car owners are aware of the rules governing car scrappage and ensure that they only use Environment Agency registered treatment centres.

There are host of services that can help you to scrap your car in an environmentally friendly way, and many will collect your car free of charge.One such service, Giveacar, also gives you the chance to donate your old or unwanted car to a charity of your choice. 

Giveacar can arrange the free collection and removal of your vehicle at a time to suit you. Depending on its age, your car will either be scrapped at an Environment Agency ATF or will be entered in to an auction. A donation will then be made to your chosen cause on your behalf based on the value of the scrap metal or the price received at auction.

Although still very much in its infancy, Giveacar is rapidly becoming a popular method of getting rid of a car in an easy, ethical and environmentally friendly way. Just over a year old, it has already raised more than £200,000 for good causes and has arranged the scrappage of more than 2,000 cars across the UK.

 

If you would like more information about scraping your car in an environmentally safe manner, please visit the Giveacar website – http://www.giveacar.co.uk/