High metal prices fuel 72% drop in dumped vehicles

And, the chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) Environment board, councillor Paul Bettison, highlighted the part that high metal prices had played in contributing to the decrease.

“A triple whammy of cracking down on would-be dumpers, quicker clearing up by councils and soaring metal prices are helping to win the battle against unsightly old bangers being left on our streets,” he said.

He added: “A few years ago, you'd have had to pay someone to take your old car away, but now, scrap metal dealers will pay you up to £1,000 for the pleasure.”

Particularly large decreases in abandoned vehicles were reported by Blaby district council in Leicestershire, which saw a 99% drop in the number dumped cars reported to the council between 2003 and 2007, and South Buckinghamshire, which recorded a 97% fall.

And, the East Midlands saw the largest regional decrease in dumped vehicles reported, falling by 84% over the same four-year period.

Metals prices have increased steadily over the past few years, with perhaps the most significant increases for both ferrous and non-ferrous metals coming earlier this year.

Market figures show that, between March and May 2008, prices for many ferrous metals almost doubled, and while non-ferrous prices have increased less dramatically this year, they are still at historically high levels.

The report over the decrease in the number of ELVs on the streets comes four months after Hampshire-based Silverlake Garage Ltd reported that it expected to collect less than 2,000 abandoned cars a year under a contract with Hampshire county council because of the increasing price of metal (see letsrecycle.com story).

Cars represent a particularly good source of recyclable metals, with BERR data showing that the current recoverable metal content of typical complete end-of-life vehicle (ELV) in the UK is 75%, made up for 69% ferrous and 6% non-ferrous metals.

And, there are currently as many as 1,300 car dismantlers licensed as authorised treatment facilities (ATFs) to help the UK meet its vehicle reuse, recycling and recovery targets under the EU ELV Directive by ensuring vehicles are correctly depolluted and recycled.

Drain cover

The high price of recyclable metals has been further illustrated by a spate of drain cover thefts in recent months.

The LGA has detailed a host of local authorities that have been hit by the thefts recently, with councils forced to pay £300 per cover to replace the stolen drains with ductile steel covers, which have no scrap value.

Regions to be particularly badly hit by the thefts include Surrey, where 268 drain covers have been stolen since April 2008, and Accrington in Lancashire, where 20 drain covers were stolen in one night.

Commenting on the thefts, Cllr Bettison said: “With the ever-rising price of scrap metal continuing to soar, thieves are increasing their raids on drain covers.

“The drain cover thefts costs taxpayers' millions of pounds while exposing drivers and pedestrians to injury or death. It is disgusting that mindless thieves are stopping this low for scrap metal,” he added.