MVDA Annual General Meeting

The Motor Vehicle Dismantlers Association Annual General Meeting is being held Tuesday 12th October, at the Stretford Suite, Old Trafford, Manchester.
There is an opportunity to tour the stadium at 11am, followed by buffet lunch at 1.00pm, the AGM starts at 2.00pm with presentations from:
Peter Stokes - Environmental Manager Cartakeback - The impact on ELV's of new car co2 directive.
Duncan Weymyss - MVDA Association Secretary - Continuing Technical Competence Requirements for ATF ELV permits
Bluecycle and the European Commission have also been invited to speak.
The AGM will conclude at 4pm

For more details contact the MVDA on 01543 254254 or mail@mvda.org.uk

International Round Table on Auto Recycling

Auto Recyclers from around the world gather in Quebec City for the International round Table on Auto Recycling

It started as a simple forum--an exchange of ideas and discussion of what the auto recycling industry could do to improve the business.

Currently, in its 5th year of succession, the International Roundtable on Auto Recycling--IRT for short--has become a global phenomenon, uniting leaders and scholars in auto recycling, insurance, repairs and government in one forum over the course of a few days.

Read the full report at http://autorecyclers.blogspot.com/2010/10/auto-recyclers-from-around-world-gather.html

The Dangers of Depollution Drip Trays

The Dangers of Depollution Drip Trays
It was initially thought that the provision of drip trays in vehicle depollution bays were a good idea, preventing the spread of spills and making the cleaning up process quicker and more efficient. These large metal trays at the base of a depollution bay collect drips of coolant, oil, brake fluid, diesel, and petrol during the depollution process.
The problem is, however, that petrol vapour also collects in the tray; because this vapour is heavier than air, it sinks to the lowest point and then can’t escape or disperse due to the metal sides (usually around 2” deep). Because petrol vapour is explosive, what at first seemed to be a good idea turns out to be a major hazard to workers using the depollution bay. In addition to this, many manufacturers do not fully understand the legislation surrounding the potential hazards of this explosive atmosphere and cocktail of flammable substances.
The European Directive 94/9/EC, ATEX, or as it’s known in the UK, DSEAR (Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmosphere Regulations) provides guidelines and legislations regarding the safe handling and management of explosive gases. According to this legislation, the UK’s Health & Safety Executive have declared that the area above the drip tray is a permanent explosive atmosphere, due to the fact that petrol vapour is present along with flammable liquids. What’s more alarming is that it is deemed to be a ‘Zone 0’ – the highest graded risk.
One of the leading UK depollution bay manufacturers, AutoDrain, have spent many years researching and testing vehicle depollution equipment and ensure that all of their products are designed in accordance with this legislation. Putting safety as a paramount priority, they strongly recommend that drip trays are not used – their own equipment reflects this; workers using their bays are not at risk from standing on top of a drip tray and the potentially fatal atmosphere that they can create.
In addition to the aforementioned legislative reasons for discarding the use of dangerous drip trays, AutoDrain also state that they do not use drip trays due to potential tripping hazards and other health and safety legislation - which would require breathing apparatus to be used by depollution workers.

Conversation with DVLA

I rang the DVLA yesterday to get advice on how to scrap my car. I did this in the guise of an ordinary car owner.

Unfortunately the guy at the DVLA defaulted immediately to the classic DVLA line "Just fill out section 9 and send it to us"
I quoted what it said on the new V5c where it says You cannot use the V5c to tell us that you have scrapped your vehicle.
He advised me to fill out section 9 and the DVLA would remove me as owner of the vehicle and "put it to trade".
This appears to be a state of limbo where vehicles go, many of which may be scrapped.

I asked him about a COD .
He said "Well you could get one of those if you wish"
I asked" where from ?"
He went away for a while and came back to inform me that "there was a list on the Internet somewhere."

I asked if getting a COD would end my responsibilities as owner.
He said "not necessarily and the only way to to do this was to fill out section 9 and tell us that you are no longer the keeper.

I asked him why?, given that it said on the V5c that the DVLA were not allowing the use of the V5c to tell of a scrapped vehicle.

He infomed me "well not all scrapyards issue these certificates and in any case the certificate does not always immediately end your responsibility for the vehicle".

To hear this from someone who is there to inform the public as to the correct procedure for legally scrapping ones motor vehicle was to say the least disheartening.

To sum up.
The tick box is gone and this is a good thing, but the filling in of section 9 and the strange wording on the back of the new V5cs will maintain some of the Non CoD loopholes.
If all you have to do is put any name on section 9 of the V5c then the unlicensed will continue to find ways around the system and the UK will end up with millions of un recorded scrap vehicles which the DVLA have put "out to trade"

If my phone call is anything to go by we are far from home and dry with the DVLA.
They continue to send out confusing messages to vehicle owners. Granted it will take time for the full effect of the new V5c but perhaps we should be looking for further assurance form the DVLA that their staff at least understand the law re ELVs.

New to the UK – End-of-Life Cars for Charity

A new service called Giveacar, launched earlier this year, organises the donation of end-of-life cars to charity. Giveacar is spearheaded by the young social entrepreneur Tom Chance and is aiming to capture a large part of the end-of-life vehicle recycling market through its unique selling point.
Though Giveacar’s primary aim is raise money for registered charities, the service is keen to promote effective vehicle recycling in order to reduce the environmental impact of end-of-life cars. Giveacar only uses the salvage operators Cartakeback and Bluecycle to collect vehicles.
We had a few words with Tom Chance to see his views on the salvage market:
“Having only known this market for six months, I have still got a huge amount to learn, but it seems there is an unnerving knowledge gap in the car recycling industry. Household recycling is so well publicised, yet given the potential damage of an end-of-life car, I find it strange that the general public seems misinformed. We compete with the kind of companies that advertise on lampposts, and we need more help from the government and DVLA to ensure that the public is informed of how to properly dispose of a vehicle.”
Giveacar is using its environmentally-friendly ethos to market the concept. Major environmental charities such as Keep Britain Tidy and Keep Scotland Beautiful, as well as many local councils, have recently started promoting the scheme. Car donation is therefore gradually gaining momentum in the UK salvage industry, adding another pocket to an already-congested marketplace.

Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes

The Environment Agency has determined that all Category A and B salvage is hazardous unless de-polluted. As a result movement of these vehicles needs to be accompanied by Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes (HWCN).

There are some specific issues relating to Cat B vehicles moving across the Scottish or N Irish borders.

For Cat B’s purchased in England and Wales a HWCN downloaded from the Environment Agency web site can be used. It is then the responsibility of the carrier/receiver of the vehicle to complete the quarterly returns to the E Agency and pay the fees requested.
This applies if the carrier/receiver is based in Scotland or N Ireland.

Where the vehicle is purchased in Scotland the carrier/receiver of the waste must purchase the Special Waste Code from SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) prior to collection of the vehicle.

For vehicles purchased in N Ireland the HWCN must be purchased from N Ireland Environmental Services (NIES), and they MUST be given 3 working days notice of vehicle movement.
Note – Category B’s purchased in England or Scotland and moved to N Ireland can be moved on E Agency HWCN or SEPA Special Waste Notes, but 3 working days notice must be given to N Ireland Environmental Services.

Scenarios:
Cat B’s purchased in England or Wales and moving to:
• England and Wales require E Agency HWCN
• Scotland require E Agency HWCN
• N Ireland require E Agency HWCN and 3 working days notice of movement

Cat B’s purchased in Scotland and moving to:
• Scotland require SEPA Special Waste Notice
• England or Wales require SEPA Special Waste Notice
• N Ireland require SEPA Special Waste Notice and 3 working days notice of movement

Cat B’s purchased in N Ireland and moving to:
• N Ireland requires NIES HWCN and 3 working days notice of movement
• Scotland requires NIES HWCN and 3 working days notice of movement to NIES
• England and Wales requires NIES HWCN and 3 working days notice of movement to NIES


This is for guidance only, it is imperative that all producers, carriers and receivers of hazardous waste fully understand their responsibilities.
Additional information can be found at:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.sepa.org.uk
www.ni-environment.gov.uk
www.netregs.gov.uk

New look V5 log book from DVLA

From the 15 August 2010 all V5C's that are issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will have a new look. The new V5C will make it clear that the registration certificate is not proof of ownership and will provide details of where you can get advice on buying a used vehicle.

The ‘scrap’ box has also been removed because all cars, light vans and three-wheeled motor vehicles- excluding motor tricycles, must be taken to an Authorised Treatment Facility, who should issue a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). Vehicles other than those already mentioned, should still be taken to an ATF to ensure they are destroyed to environmental standards. Anyone keeping the vehicle but breaking it up for parts, etc, should make a Statutory off Road Notification (SORN) to let DVLA know that the vehicle is being kept unlicensed and off the road.

Anyone with the existing blue version need not do anything as both types of document are still valid.

DVLA’s ‘Buyer Beware’ message advises that the V5C is only one of the things that buyers of used vehicles need to check. By making buyers aware of the risks, our aim is to help them to protect themselves and reduce the risk of getting caught out by criminals.

For more information on the V5c and our Buyer Beware consumer protection initiative, go to www.direct.gov.uk/buyerbeware for your information.