| Author (Person) | Bower, Helen |
|---|---|
| Publisher | ProQuest Information and Learning |
| Series Title | In Focus |
| Series Details | 22.10.02 |
| Publication Date | 22/10/2002 |
| Content Type | News, Overview, Topic Guide | In Focus |
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The European Commission formally requested on 21 October 2002 that France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Finland adopt national laws concerning end-of-life vehicles since they have failed to meet the April 2002 deadline laid out in the Directive. The request comes two years after the Directive entered into force with the aim of reducing waste from end-of-life vehicles and promoting the collection, re-use and recycling of their components to protect the environment.The Directive forms part of a larger legislative package covering waste which the European Commission proposed in the 1990s in order to strengthen the Community's waste management policy. The policy is based on two key strategies:
A specific Directive concerning end of life vehicles was seen as essential by the European Commission because of the importance and size of this waste - an estimated 8-9 million tons is generated each year. Currently, 75% of end-of-life vehicles are recycled (metal content)but the aims to increase the rate of re-use and recovery to 85% by 2006, and to 95% by 2015, and to increase the rate of re-use and recycling over the same period to at least 80% and 85% respectively. In order to achieve these objectives, the Directive stipulates that vehicle manufacturers and material and equipment manufacturers must:
In addition the Member States are tasked with establishing collection systems for end-of-life vehicles and for waste used parts. They are also responsible for ensuring that all vehicles are transferred to authorised treatment facilities, and establishing a system of deregistration upon presentation of a certificate of destruction. The Directive on end of life vehicles has evoked mixed responses from the Member States and car manufacturers. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) criticised the European Commission in 1998 for producing such a proposal, arguing that no other comparable consumer product had such a high recycling rate as the automobile. Although it welcomed the introduction of a certificate of destruction and the definition of minimum criteria the ACEA criticised the division of the target for total recovery into a target for reuse and recycling, and a target for energy recovery; the return of vehicles free of charge as from the year 2003; and the list of prohibited materials. In Germany, the car manufacturing industry warned that it would pass the cost of taking back end of life vehicles 'free of charge' onto the consumer through higher car prices amid fears that the Directive could cost the industry €180 per car. In the United Kingdom, the government has been criticised by car manufacturers for suggesting that car makers bear the cost of vehicle recycling from 2002, five years ahead of the European Commission deadline of 2007. The request issued by the European Commission on 16 October 2002 represents the second written warning concerning the ten Member States' failure to implement the Directive. If the countries do not comply with the reasoned opinion then the European Commission may decide to bring the case before the Court of Justice and ask the Court to impose a fine on the Member State concerned. Helen Bower The European Commission formally requested on 21 October 2002 that France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Finland adopt national laws concerning end-of-life vehicles since they have failed to meet the April 2002 deadline laid out in the Directive. |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Environment |
