Free take-back features in latest consultation on ELV regulations

The joint consultation has been launched by both the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It seeks views on two Statutory Instruments that will be finalised later this year – the End of Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 and the End of Life Vehicles (Storage and Treatment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003.

These pieces of legislation will see the UK finally transposing the European ELV Directive into domestic law after months of delays.

The new consultation applies to England and Wales, with part one applying to Scotland but not part two, which will be subject to a separate consultation. Northern Ireland will be consulting separately on the whole issue.

The Government previously consulted on the ELV Directive in August
2001, and since then has been discussing implementation with its ELV working group of industry representatives (see letsrecycle.com legislation section).

This new consultation is looking into the following aspects of the ELV Directive:

• the introduction of “authorised treatment facilities”, depolluting and dismantling ELVs to specified environmental standards
• the introduction of a “Certificate of Destruction” for scrapped vehicles
• “free take-back” for vehicles put on the market from July 2002, should they have a negative value when scrapped
• the marking of certain vehicle components, to aid recycling, and the provision of dismantling manuals and design information for new vehicles
• restrictions on the use of certain “heavy metals” in vehicle manufacture

The government has said it will consult shortly on further draft regulations introducing the arrangements relating to “free take back” of ELVs of any age, and
to the recycling targets in the Directive.

The deadline for responding to the consultation is June 6 2003. The outcome of the consultation will be published shortly after this date.

Click here for a copy of the ELV consultation paper, or write to: