December 02, 2008

Car makers hit 85% recycling target in 2006 - BERR

According to figures collated by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, when a car is scrapped, 85% of it can now be recycled or re used as per legal requirements.

Data on cars scrapped by licensed treatment facilities in 2006 show that car makers have hit one of the benchmarks set in the End of Life Vehicles Directive. This said that 85% of a scrap car must be capable of recovery by 2006, rising to 95% by 2015.

Under the End of Life Vehicle Regulation, manufacturers were required to contract with Authorised Treatment Facilities. These licensed premises would ensure convenient and cost free take back of scrap cars for owners. But they would also guarantee that vehicles had been disposed of in an environmentally friendly way, with Certificates of Destruction issued to the owner and DVLA.

The process firstly involves de polluting a vehicle, removing its harmful liquids, tyres and deploying the airbags. The remaining materials are then shredded to recover valuable parts like steel, aluminum and recyclable plastics. Recovery rates are collated by Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

According to Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform figures, a total of 305,000 vehicles were handled by the two agents contracted by manufacturers, Cartakeback and Autogreen, in 2006. Of these 190,000 were handled under contract with manufacturers. In total, 685,000 Certificates of Destruction were issued in 2006. The DVLA was also notified of a further 215,000 vehicles through Notices of Destruction.