ELV Environmental Services (ELVES) has reported a very positive response to the launch of a new Irish compliance scheme that has been set up by vehicle manufacturers to improve the recycling of scrap vehicles and to help encourage compliance with the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulations. The new programme was launched at the end of May and has already established a nationwide network of Authorised Treatment Facilities around Ireland.

The ELV Regulations oblige owners of cars and light commercial vehicles that are no longer roadworthy to use a permitted scrapyard/dismantler to have their vehicle recycled. ELVES aims to generate awareness of its national network of permitted Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) who will provide a free drop off service to the public for scrap vehicles. The programme works in a similar way to recycling at a bring bank or civic amenity site.

When a consumer or a garage scraps a vehicle at an ATF, they should ask for a receipt of the transaction, called a Certificate of Destruction (CoD), from that facility to show that they have handed over their vehicle to be recycled and recovered. The CoD will confirm that the vehicle has been accepted as an ELV and this then ends the final owner's responsibility for it. The ATF will look after the requirements of the process. This will include recycling of fuel and other fluids, dismantling and reuse of component parts, and the recycling of metal and materials. A list of local ATFS can be found on www.elves.ie.

Around 90,000 vehicles are scrapped annually in Ireland. ELVES' aim is to improve the reuse of parts and recycling of ELVs in order to help Ireland meet national targets. In 2014, Ireland reused, recycled and recovered 91% of its ELVs. ELVES' aim is to increase this rate to 95%.

Fiacra Quinn of ELVES commented, "ELVES is committed to raising public awareness of why, where and how to scrap a vehicle. We want consumers to check the ELVES website for a list of authorised treatment facilities and to make sure that they are informed about getting a Certificate of Destruction. We are currently building a nationwide network of ATFs, which will enable the public to easily find a scrapyard near them. Our funding comes from vehicle manufacturers, who are members of ELVES, and they have shown commitment to achieving national targets in a collective manner. Promoting reuse of parts and recycling is key to this."

Minister Denis Naughten who was on hand to launch the ELVES scheme, added, "Most people are conscious of their own environmental responsibilities and want to recycle and reuse as much as possible. The ELVES scheme will give people that information and make it much easier for them access the all-important details on how to dispose of their end of life vehicles quickly and easily. It is to be commended that the motor industry has come together with the ELVES scheme to address those issues."