Ok, I know most of you understand ELV’s, but please allow me to expand on the EU regulations and show you that this is more than just a set of rules for vehicles in auto recycling yards.
The whole ELV process starts from vehicle design – ensuring components used in vehicle build can be recycled, adherence to a very specific list of materials that cannot be used in vehicles, ease of dismantling are all necessary. The EU believes that these regulations have resulted in a 90% reduction of hazardous substances in vehicle build since introduction.
Vehicle manufacturers also have a requirement to make dismantling information available to the auto recycling industry – including details of what components are made from, especially important when removing plastic components.
The European Union are also supporting development of recycling techniques and the recycled marketplace – to make sure that any components removed for recycling can be reused.
Once an ELV arrives at the auto recycling yard the vehicle must be stored on an impermeable surface, with sealed drainage until it has been de-polluted. This makes sure that any fluids leaking out are captured and cannot contaminate the surrounding area.
After de-pollution the vehicle can then go into the main yard.
De-pollution includes the following components and processes:
Air Conditioning – evacuation of the system, storage of the removed gas for safe recycling
Oils – removal of all oils from engine, gearbox, power steering and shock absorbers, includes removal of the engine oil filter. Fuel –removal of all fuels; Coolant –Removal; Screen Washer Fluid – removal; All fluids are then safely stored for future recycling.
All fluids need to be stored in sealed containers that are in a bunded area – an enclosed area that will stop fluid leaking out if storage tanks fail.
Tyres: Removed and stored for re-use or recycling, lead balance weights are removed from wheels and stored separately.
Airbags: Deployed.
Batteries: Removed and stored in sealed containers for recycling
Catalytic Converters: Removed and stored for future recycling.
Once the vehicle is considered to be ‘clean’ it can then go into the main yard for further processing as desired, this could be dismantling or straight to a shredder facility. Some recycling yards strip vehicles down further with cores going into separate bins, alloys separated from steel, etc.
Where does the future lie? – Well the EU has set the standard that the rest of the world must follow. There is still plenty to do, ELV legislation applies to cars and light commercials only, so the EU need to bring motorbikes and heavy commercials under the directive as soon as possible, and enforcement is a priority – according to latest reports 12 member states (out of 27) have not met the requirements of the ELV directive.
If this were my old school teacher it would get a B+, but could do better!
Salvage Wire
Helping Automotive recyclers become leaders in their industry
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Thursday, 28 April 2011
How 'Green' is the Auto Recycling World?
Sustainable development in the Auto Recycling Industry
Auto recycling can be a very green operation, but it can also be very dirty and harmful to the environment, the challenge has to be how to effectively improve the image of the industry, divert more product away from landfill and into recycling, and ensure that auto recycling activities do not harm this fragile planet we live on.
An immense challenge, especially when we hear about the predicted increase in new vehicle sales for China and S East Asia over the coming 20 years.
As with all things, this must start at the vehicle design stage – vehicle manufacturers must be forced to design vehicles that can easily be recycled once they reach the end of their lives. This includes materials used in production, restrictions in the use of hazardous substances such as mercury, and ease of dismantling.
During the life of the vehicle, manufacturers have a need to show that servicing schedules are designed to minimise waste, and service agents must be able to recycle as much of the waste products as possible.
When the vehicle reaches the end of its’ life it must go to an approved treatment facility for de-pollution, dismantling and recycling. A site where all waste products can be removed cleanly, efficiently and sent for recycling. A site where the ground will not be contaminated, workers are kept safe and the public are not in any danger.
The European Union is getting there – they already have rules and regulations in place regarding all of the above, including development of markets for the recycled products that come out of ELV’s – their target of 95% of each vehicle being recycled from 2015 is tough, but achievable.
Problem is, the rules only apply to cars and light commercial vehicles, when will similar standards be applied to motorbikes and heavy commercials?
What about the rest of the world and what happens in 10-12 years time when the 12 million new cars sold in China this year reach the end of their lives?
It is time for the worldwide auto recycling industry to set minimum standards for vehicle de-pollution, dismantling and recycling for all motor vehicles. Standards that reflect the need to protect our world from pollution, increase the amount of product that is recycled, and minimise waste.
Talk to your local Politicians, Councillors, Members of Parliament, Senators etc, ask them what they are doing to protect the environment, when can we see updated rules and regulations, and more importantly the funding to enforce these rules and regulations and drive illegal operators out of business.
Auto recycling can be a very green operation, but it can also be very dirty and harmful to the environment, the challenge has to be how to effectively improve the image of the industry, divert more product away from landfill and into recycling, and ensure that auto recycling activities do not harm this fragile planet we live on.
An immense challenge, especially when we hear about the predicted increase in new vehicle sales for China and S East Asia over the coming 20 years.
As with all things, this must start at the vehicle design stage – vehicle manufacturers must be forced to design vehicles that can easily be recycled once they reach the end of their lives. This includes materials used in production, restrictions in the use of hazardous substances such as mercury, and ease of dismantling.
During the life of the vehicle, manufacturers have a need to show that servicing schedules are designed to minimise waste, and service agents must be able to recycle as much of the waste products as possible.
When the vehicle reaches the end of its’ life it must go to an approved treatment facility for de-pollution, dismantling and recycling. A site where all waste products can be removed cleanly, efficiently and sent for recycling. A site where the ground will not be contaminated, workers are kept safe and the public are not in any danger.
The European Union is getting there – they already have rules and regulations in place regarding all of the above, including development of markets for the recycled products that come out of ELV’s – their target of 95% of each vehicle being recycled from 2015 is tough, but achievable.
Problem is, the rules only apply to cars and light commercial vehicles, when will similar standards be applied to motorbikes and heavy commercials?
What about the rest of the world and what happens in 10-12 years time when the 12 million new cars sold in China this year reach the end of their lives?
It is time for the worldwide auto recycling industry to set minimum standards for vehicle de-pollution, dismantling and recycling for all motor vehicles. Standards that reflect the need to protect our world from pollution, increase the amount of product that is recycled, and minimise waste.
Talk to your local Politicians, Councillors, Members of Parliament, Senators etc, ask them what they are doing to protect the environment, when can we see updated rules and regulations, and more importantly the funding to enforce these rules and regulations and drive illegal operators out of business.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
How clean is the operation?
Over many years of working in the salvage industry I have seen a discernable increase in the environmental standards of the sites that I visit.
I visited a yard last week in the UK that took me back 6-8 years, the storage area was ankle deep in mud, vehicles were being stripped in the open, and the working area was covered in oil, mud and other vehicle fluids. Vehicles stored had obviously not been de-polluted, still had wheels and tyres on and fluids were visibly leaking.
This yard is licensed by the Environment Agency, and is also registered with their local council, yet they still continue to operate whilst appearing to ignore many of the standards set by End of life Vehicle Regulations.
The UK salvage industry needs to work very closely with the various government departments and agencies to raise professional standards and increase the public perception of the industry. Yards like the one detailed above bring the industry into disrepute, and must be encouraged to improve within a defined timescale otherwise their licences need to be revoked.
I am very fortunate; my role takes me to many yards all over the world, with some of the best being in Germany and Holland. Most of these have got there through rigorous enforcement and in some cases grants from local and national government. They set the standard that the salvage industry worldwide needs to aim for, and this includes how they work with their environment agencies locally and nationally.
We need to get over the ‘them and us’ attitude that I see too often from many UK yard owners and managers when they talk about the various environment agencies they deal with, we need to have a collective effort from all salvage professionals to continually increase standards, and a passion to help others in the industry improve. This can only be completed by the industry coming together, putting aside the differences that many have to enable progress.
As the UK moves towards a General Election, what do the various political parties say about this, what questions should we be asking the local candidates and what should the party leaders be asked?
I have my own ideas about the questions that need to be asked, what about yourselves, comment on this blog and add your own questions, and I will collate them and put to the various parties on your behalf.
I visited a yard last week in the UK that took me back 6-8 years, the storage area was ankle deep in mud, vehicles were being stripped in the open, and the working area was covered in oil, mud and other vehicle fluids. Vehicles stored had obviously not been de-polluted, still had wheels and tyres on and fluids were visibly leaking.
This yard is licensed by the Environment Agency, and is also registered with their local council, yet they still continue to operate whilst appearing to ignore many of the standards set by End of life Vehicle Regulations.
The UK salvage industry needs to work very closely with the various government departments and agencies to raise professional standards and increase the public perception of the industry. Yards like the one detailed above bring the industry into disrepute, and must be encouraged to improve within a defined timescale otherwise their licences need to be revoked.
I am very fortunate; my role takes me to many yards all over the world, with some of the best being in Germany and Holland. Most of these have got there through rigorous enforcement and in some cases grants from local and national government. They set the standard that the salvage industry worldwide needs to aim for, and this includes how they work with their environment agencies locally and nationally.
We need to get over the ‘them and us’ attitude that I see too often from many UK yard owners and managers when they talk about the various environment agencies they deal with, we need to have a collective effort from all salvage professionals to continually increase standards, and a passion to help others in the industry improve. This can only be completed by the industry coming together, putting aside the differences that many have to enable progress.
As the UK moves towards a General Election, what do the various political parties say about this, what questions should we be asking the local candidates and what should the party leaders be asked?
I have my own ideas about the questions that need to be asked, what about yourselves, comment on this blog and add your own questions, and I will collate them and put to the various parties on your behalf.
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