padraic deane
Have you ever thought about where your old car ends up?
Well it should end-up in one of the ELVES (End of Life Vehicles Environmental Services ) network of over 60 recycling facilities or Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs ), located all around the country. And this recycling scheme is proving very successful.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) has released the latest national end-of-life vehicle (ELV ) figures that show Ireland has again met the targets for ELV recycling.
ELVES, the producer compliance scheme for ELVs in Ireland, works to ensure the challenging ELV targets of 85 per cent and 95 per cent are met by its network and the country as a whole, and has been doing so successfully since it received approval as the compliance scheme for the sector in 2017. In fact, ELVES has met targets for the fourth year in a row.
It does this by funding additional recycling of ELV material that would not normally occur. In 2021, Ireland, supported by ELVES, achieved a reuse and recycling rate of 87.8 per cent and an overall combined reuse and recovery rate of 95.7 percent.
The ELVES Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF ) network has met both targets since 2017, while meeting the national targets from 2018 onwards.
The year 2021 was a challenging year for target achievement, with a high volume of ELVs arising. There were 154,365 tonnes of ELV waste, which was an increase of over 18 per cent on 2020. ELVES also achieved this despite the fact that one in three cars imported into Ireland in 2021 did not financially contribute to its end-of-life management.
In addition to target success, ELVES works to improve the reprocessing of ELVs, by raising awareness about the correct way to scrap a vehicle, promoting its network of ATFs so the public know where they can take their vehicle for recycling, and highlighting the importance of getting a certificate of destruction.
ELVES also works on targeted interventions to aid ATFs including the provision of autogas decommissioning equipment and air conditioning gas (F-Gas ) removal guidance and training.
To help prepare for the future, ELVES established its Electric ELVES programme to support all ATFs in the management of electric and hybrid vehicles when they reach end-of-life.
The programme provides free collection and recycling of electric vehicle batteries, training for dismantlers, and information provision to all ATFs in Ireland.
