MVDA chair calls for action over illegal waste sites

Delivering his chairman’s report at the MVDA annual general meeting last month, which was held at the CARS and Metals Recycling Event at Donington Park near Derby, Mr Wemyss also urged members to lobby MPs for backing for the car recycling industry.

In his address Mr Wemyss highlighted work carried out by the organisation to review permit exemptions at end of life vehicle (ELV) scrappage sites, which he claimed supported calls for an extension of permitting requirements.

Illegal

And, he noted that the organisation has also been working throughout the past 12 months to tackle illegal operators in the sector.

Mr Wemyss said: “The major area of work that has been carried out by the association during this period is our determination to seek out illegal operators and report them to the Environment Agency.”

MVDA presented a report to the Agency of some 26 sites to be operating illegally within the West Midlands area.

Lobbying

On lobbying, Mr Wemyss urged members to engage with MPs on waste crime and funding for enforcement activities by the Environment Agency.

He said: “To assist the association in highlighting to the authorities the detrimental effect these illegal operators have upon our industry may I suggest that you as member companies, invite your local MP to visit your site, the summer recess in August/September is when MPs seem to be more readily available.

“The aim of a visit would be for your MP to meet your employees, probably the MPs constituents, to see first-hand the excellent recycling processes and finally and more importantly for you to explain to the MP the impact the illegal operators have on your legitimate business and the employees future employment.”

Elsewhere Mr Wemyss also raised the ongoing work to draw up a code of practice for salvage vehicles – which is being carried out by the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

However, Mr Wemyss raised concerns that the latest draft of the revised code contains articles that are not in the interests of MVDA members, particularly around airbag resale and certificate of destruction, and said that the MVDA will not be a signatory to the document unless these concerns are addressed.