Guide to End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling | End of Life Vehicle Regulations

We deal with all kinds of scrap metal recycling here at Morecambe Metals, with one of the bulkier domestic items being End-of-Life vehicles. The days of scrapped cars sitting around and leaking toxic fluids everywhere before being crushed into cubes and thrown onto landfills are long gone. These days, up to 95% of the material in scrapped vehicles is reused, recovered, or recycled by authorised treatment facilities.

End-of-life vehicles must be depolluted and dismantled correctly by an Authorised Treatment Facility like Morecambe Metals, so their parts can be recycled and used again. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the ELV recycling process, regulations, and your responsibilities as a vehicle owner.

What is an End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV)?

An End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) is any motor vehicle that has come to the end of its useful life and is categorised as waste, along with its components and materials. There is no set definition for what makes a vehicle an ELV. Often, it will be the vehicle’s owner taking the decision that it is no longer economically viable to run the vehicle.

Types of End-of-Life Vehicles

Natural ELVs – These vehicles have reached the end of their natural life due to wear and tear and are usually over ten years old. Owners decide when the vehicle has reached the end of its life.
Premature ELVs – Vehicles that have reached the end of their life by unnatural causes such as a road traffic accident, fire, flood, or vandalism. Premature ELVs may be sold on as damaged-repairable salvage or dismantled for their working parts.

Legal and Regulatory Overview

The regulations surrounding End of Life Vehicles are a directive of the European Union addressing the end of life for automotive products, designed to limit the environmental impact of vehicle disposal by reducing waste and encouraging recovery, re-use, and recycling of components.

Key Statistics and Requirements

Around 1.6 to 2 million End of Life Vehicles are generated each year in the UK.

Producers of cars must provide free ‘take back’ points, meaning the last owner of a vehicle is entitled to free disposal through an adequate network of facilities.

UK ELV Regulations

The main UK Regulations came into effect in 2003 but have since been revised and amended. Key requirements include:

Scope: Applies to cars and vans up to 3.5 tonnes (not motorbikes, lorries or buses)
Free disposal: Since 2007, last owners of vehicles are entitled to free disposal
Recycling targets: 95% reuse, recycling and recovery by weight
Depollution requirement: All ELVs must be depolluted before destruction by an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF)

Step-by-Step: The ELV Recycling Process

1. Vehicle Collection and Assessment

When you bring your vehicle to an Authorised Treatment Facility like Morecambe Metals, we assess the vehicle and begin the recycling process according to strict regulatory guidelines.

2. Depollution

Under UK regulations, all scrapped cars must be depolluted. Depollution removes hazardous components and ensures no harmful toxins or chemicals are released into the atmosphere, water supply or food chain.

Items Removed During Depollution include:

Tyres
Lead-acid battery
Wheels and lead balance weights
LPG tank (where applicable)
Airbags
Seatbelt pre-tensioners
Oils and fluids (engine, gearbox, transmission, hydraulic, coolant, antifreeze, brake, AC gas, washer fluid, etc.)
Catalytic converter
Oil filter
Switches and parts containing mercury

3. Material Separation and Recovery

Once the car has been depolluted, hazardous components are documented and disposed of safely or sold if they can be re-used. Light materials such as foam, fabric and plastic are separated for recycling.

4. Metal Processing

The remaining metal of the vehicle is shredded into small pieces. Ferrous metals are sorted using a magnet. Iron and steel account for 65% of a vehicle’s weight and can be indefinitely recycled.

Tyres

Certificate of Destruction (CoD)

Once your vehicle has been recycled at an Authorised Treatment Facility, you’ll be issued with a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). This declares that your car will never be driven on the road again and is a vital piece of paperwork.

Why the Certificate is Important:

Without it, you could still be liable for tax on the vehicle
You may incur penalties if the vehicle is involved in a road traffic offence
Only Authorised Treatment Facilities can issue Certificates of Destruction
The certificate updates live on the DVLA database

Your Responsibilities as a Vehicle Owner

Choosing an Authorised Treatment Facility

Before you hand over your vehicle, ensure you are dealing with a company legally authorised to issue a CoD. To operate, facilities need:

Planning permission from the local authority
Environmental permit for the specific treatment the site carries out
Site inspection approval by the Environment Agency

The Environment Agency ensures facilities can:

Store and treat ELVs without harming the environment
Safely remove hazardous parts and fluids
Recycle and dispose of ELV parts correctly

Payment Methods – Don’t Accept Cash

In 2013, the UK government revised the law on scrap metal payments. Section 12 of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act states that dealers must pay by cheque or electronic bank transfer only – paying cash for scrapped cars is illegal.

Why This Matters:

If offered cash, you’re likely not dealing with a legitimate ATF
The vehicle may not be handled correctly, leaving you liable for issues
Following the Scrap Metal Dealers Act is an essential step in compliance

Environmental Impact and Benefits

Our depollution process ensures that all salvageable parts of ELVs are either recycled or reused. This approach:

Prevents harmful chemicals and toxins from contaminating the environment
Ensures up to 95% of vehicle materials are recovered, recycled, or reused
Reduces landfill waste significantly
Supports the circular economy through material recovery

Morecambe Metals: Your Trusted ELV Recycling Partner

Morecambe Metals is an Authorised Treatment Facility providing comprehensive vehicle scrapping services for end-of-life vehicles. We have a purpose-built depollution rig, allowing us to depollute and recycle vehicles in line with current legislation.

Our Services Include:

Professional vehicle depollution to legislative standards
Certificate of Destruction for passenger and light goods vehicles under 3.5 tonnes
Removal of hazardous components for proper disposal or reuse
Eco-friendly recycling methods that exceed industry standards
Proper deregistration and DVLA database updates

We are fully committed to ensuring we meet all requirements when conducting end-of-life recycling services, with thorough methods to ensure minimal environmental impact.

Have you been asking yourself, where can I scrap my car? Contact us at Morecambe Metals today for more information about our ecological approach to end-of-life vehicle recycling or to find out more about our scrap metal recycling services.

Complete Guide to End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling in the UK