The European Commission’s new end-of-life vehicle (ELV) regulation, which revises the rules governing the design, production, collection, and treatment of end-of-life vehicles, was introduced on the the 13th August.
The Commission says that the new Regulation aims to strengthen the circularity of the automotive sector by “improving resource efficiency, increasing the recovery and reuse of valuable materials, and enhancing the environmental performance of vehicles throughout their lifecycle.”
However, the regulation will not apply until 1 September 2028: until that time, the existing End-of-Life Vehicles Directive remains in force and continues to govern the treatment of end-of-life vehicles.
The new rules also restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in new vehicles, their parts and components, except where exemptions apply. The rules will also help secure a more stable supply of secondary raw materials, which the Commission says will reduce dependence on imported virgin resources.
Jessica Roswell, commissioner for environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy said: “This is about more than recycling. It is about securing critical materials and making our automotive sector truly circular. Every car that is dismantled, every tonne of steel, aluminium, copper or plastic that is recovered, is a step towards a more resilient Europe.”
Requirements of the new rules include mandatory targets for recycled plastic content in cars, starting at 15% from 2032, rising to 25% from 2036. Recycled content targets for steel and aluminium are to be established by the Commission, and these should be introduced by 2033. Measures will also see greater recovery of critical raw materials, especially copper and rare earth elements.
The new regulation also makes producers responsible for the end-of-life phase of the vehicles that they place on the market and, the Commission says, “creates incentives for more sustainable vehicle design and helps ensure that high-quality collection, dismantling and recycling systems are properly financed.”
Supporting the implementation of the rules, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will identify substances of concern in vehicles and how they may affect re-use, recycling, human health or the environment. The Commission may ask the ECHA to prepare restriction proposals for hazardous substances, while EU member states can submit their own proposals.
Peter van der Zandt, ECHA’s director for risk assessment and management said: “ECHA’s scientific expertise on chemicals will support the objective of building a more circular automotive sector.”
Further reading:
- Driving sustainability: Europe wants more recycling from end-of-life vehicles
- Circular plastics and chemical recycling: More clarity needed around end-of-waste rules
- ‘Dramatic slowdown’ in shift to circular plastics in Europe
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