Opportunities:

ELV waste management is a market with increasing potential where opportunities are flourishing for U.S. companies engaged in the manufacturing, dismantling, shredding or recycling process of a vehicle and vehicle components. 

Opportunities also exist for innovative automotive vehicle and parts designers, who are capable of playing into the increasingly stringent re-use, recovery and recycling demands for vehicles and parts.

Background:

Vehicles reaching the end of their lives represent a major source of waste.  Each year, the disposal of cars creates between 8 and 9 million tons of waste in the European Union (EU).  In view of protecting the environment, the EU aims to reduce waste from ELVs and to promote the collection, re-use and recycling of ELVs and their components.  For this purpose, Directive 2000/53/EC was adopted to regulate ELVs (attached below). This has an impact on the design of vehicles and the requirements for ELV collection and treatment facilities.

All cars must be designed for 85% recyclability untill 2009; 95% after 2010. EU Members States can impose stricter national laws.  The Global Automotive Team is looking into the ramifications on U.S. suppliers to European customers.

Effective January 1, 2015 at the latest, the re-use and recovery of all ELVs shall be increased to a minimum of 95% by an average weight per vehicle.  Within the same time limit, the re-use and recycling shall be increased to a minimum of 85% by an average weight per vehicle.

Supporting documents are attached below.

U.S. Suppliers interested in learning more should contact natasha.keylard@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov