Future ELV Legislation
The current legislation for the correct disposal of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) was created over 20 years ago. Vehicles have changed in countless ways since then, and the legislation needs to evolve to keep up with them.
Legislation not only needs to adapt based on developments in motor technology, but also to ensure that data is collected accurately. This makes sure UK targets relating to vehicle recycling are being correctly recorded.
With this in mind, here are our predictions for how ELV legislation will change in the near future.
Why Does Current ELV Legislation Need to Change?
As it stands, the current target legislation for ELVs demands a 95% recovery rate and 85% recycling rate, based on the average weight of each ELV.
The way that these statistics are recorded is not always accurate, meaning that targets may not be being met as well as suggested. It’s therefore important that ELV legislation also covers the ways in which this data is recorded, to make sure that the UK is meeting its recycling targets. This is important for both the environment and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.
Keep Up with Changing Legislation
With new technology allowing for additional methods to process ASR, it makes sense ELV legislation will evolve to enforce more accurate recording of targets and better environmental practices.
At ELV Training, we’re passionate about educating staff at processing plants on the safest, most efficient methods of disposing ELVs. Our courses are kept up to date in order to reflect changes in ELV legislation, making sure that we’re always providing the most accurate information possible.
Switching From Recovery to Recycling
Energy recovery from automotive shredder residue (ASR) is currently included in recycling figures. Although this may sound like a good thing, ASR is harmful to the environment and its inclusion skews the statistics.
By quoting a recycling rate instead of a recovery rate, unconstrained energy recovery of ASR can be excluded from the statistics and allow for a more accurate result.
What is ASR and Why is it Bad for the Environment
ASR is the remaining 25% of vehicle components that are left after depollution. It’s what remains when all the recyclable or reusable parts have been removed.
ASR is waste and is composed mainly of plastics, contaminated by other inseparable materials. ASR is often disposed of in landfills as solid urban waste. It constitutes 10% of total hazardous waste in the EU. Only certain ASR can be incinerated for energy recovery and incineration naturally releases harmful emissions into the air. As a result, including ASR as part of the overall ELV recovery rates is deceiving.
Incinerating ASR for energy is harmful to the atmosphere, so it would be much better for the environment if we could use additional methods to recover material for recycling. There are technologies available that offer post-shredder waste stream separation which can help achieve higher true recycling rates.