Guidance on treatment of ELVs

Under the EU Directive on ELVs, Member States must set up a network of licensed recyclers, known as "authorised treatment facilities", to depollute and recycle scrap cars.

The end-of-life vehicles regulations, issued in October (ENDS Report 345, p 41 ), require all sites that store or treat vehicles to meet minimum technical standards. This includes sites that treat vehicles, such as heavy goods vehicles, which do not fall under the ELVs Directive.

The regulations also require operators who currently treat vehicles under the terms of a registered exemption from licensing to obtain a waste management licence if they plan to continue accepting vehicles that have not been depolluted.

The Department of Trade and Industry will publish its own guidance on the issue shortly.