Centre for recycling scrap vehicles

A new scheme which aims to encourage the recycling of scrap vehicles in Ireland has just opened and is based in Drogheda.

Some 90,000 vehicles are scrapped each year in Ireland and ELV Environmental Services (ELVES) is a new compliance scheme which has been set up by vehicle manufacturers to improve the recycling of scrap vehicles and to help encourage compliance with End-of-Life (ELV) Regulations.

The new scheme was launched last week by Minister Denis Naughten to drive reuse and recycling.

The local outlet in Louth is situated at Cassidy Car Parts in Grangebellew, Drogheda.

Since 2015, 95% of the vehicle must be reused, recycled or recovered, with a minimum of 85% from reuse (components) or recycling. ELVES’ aim is to bring this rate up to 95%. The ELV Regulations oblige owners of vehicles that are no longer roadworthy, such as passenger cars and small vans, to use a permitted scrapyard and have their vehicle recycled.

ELVES aims to generate awareness of its national network of permitted scrapyards, officially known as Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs).

These ATFs will provide a FREE drop off service to the public for scrap vehicles.

Similar to recycling at a bring bank or civic amenity site, ATFs will enable people to easily hand over their vehicles for recycling and recovery.

ELVES is establishing a nationwide network of ATFs around Ireland

This network has a good geographical spread with nearly 40 ATFs currently within the scheme. The network is still growing with ELVES regularly recruiting new ATFs to the network. When a consumer or a garage scraps a vehicle at an ATF, they should ask for a receipt of the transaction, called a Certificate of Destruction (CoD), from that facility to show that they have handed over their vehicle to be recycled and recovered.

The CoD will confirm that the vehicle has been accepted as an ELV and this then ends the final owner’s responsibility for it.

The ATF will look after the requirements of the process.