Behind the scenes for most motorists is good news in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA ) publication of the national results for End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV ) recycling for 2019. It showed that once again Ireland has both met and exceeded the 85 per cent reuse and recycling and the 95 per cent reuse and recovery targets for the treatment of ELVs.
The results for 2019 were 87.43 per cent reuse and recycling and 95.21 per cent reuse and recovery.
ELVES, the compliance scheme for end-of-life vehicles, expressed its delight with this result.
“Meeting both targets for the second year in a row and improving year on year, really demonstrates the impact of ELVES on improving the processing of End-of-Life Vehicles in Ireland. Long may it continue”, said Fiacra Quinn, CEO of ELVES.
The 85 and 95 per cent targets have been in place since 2015, and 2018 was the first year Ireland met both targets.
The 85 per cent target covers reuse of parts and recycling of materials. The 95 per cent target includes reuse, recycling, and other forms of recovery such as waste to energy.
The ELVES compliance scheme has been operating under Ministerial approval since 2017, promoting its Network of Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs ) that take back ELVs from the public free of charge for recycling.
Once dropped off at an ATF, the owner of the vehicle is issued with a Certificate of Destruction that ends their responsibility for the vehicle.
The Network consists of 64 ATFs that account for 80 per cent of Certificates of Destruction issued in Ireland.
Elena Wrelton, Environmental Compliance Manager of ELVES said: “The 2019 results show the important contribution that ATFs and re-processors make to Ireland’s circular economy. With the support of ELVES, the country has seen good results turn into a great result.
“ELVES’ support of additional post shredder recovery, the reuse and recycling at ATFs, and ensuring that the public know how to correctly scrap a vehicle is really paying off.”
