Stewardship for Cars:
the European End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive

The European Union’s ELV directive is targeted at getting old vehicles, and all their parts, reused or recycled. It should increase the amount of metal being recycled. Some of the provisions of the directive are:

• Ensure that all ELVs are only treated by authorised dismantlers
• Provide free take-back of all ELVs for new vehicles put on the market after 2002; from 2007 provide free take-back for all vehicles including those put on market before 2002
• Restrict the use of heavy metals in vehicles from July 2003
• Sets out a schedule of targeted recovery rates
  

It also requires the 'de-pollution' of vehicles before being recycled. This involves extracting gasoline, diesel fuel, brake fluid, engine oil, antifreeze, batteries, airbags, mercury-bearing components and catalysts.

(Source: March 2005 WasteWatch)

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