The average age of a car at scrappage in 2015 reached 13.9 years, which is on a par with the 2014 performance. The lowest scrappage age, 13 years, was recorded in 2009, a result of government’s scrappage scheme.
Furthermore, the average age of a vehicle on the road has increased, from 6.8 years in 2003 to 7.8 recorded in 2015. This reflects both slower fleet renewal and the increased longevity of vehicles. This trend works against the uptake of new vehicles, which would bring greater environmental benefits. Newer vehicles also incorporate more advanced occupant and pedestrian safety features.
Challenge 1
- The automotive industry has co-operated with the recycling industry to ensure vehicles have become one of the most recycled products on the market. New vehicles are being designed to meet CO2 targets, in some cases resulting in the introduction of new materials.
- All vehicles continue to be designed to be 95%recoverable at the end of their lives.
- The introduction of new materials provides both challenges and opportunities for further development of the recycling markets.
Challenge 2
- A network of unlicensed scrap dealers still exists, and is capturing ELVs for the value of their metals.
- As these scrap dealers are unregulated, the standard of practice at these locations could harm the environment.
- The unlicensed scrap dealer sector increases the risk of non-achievement of quotas, creating unbalanced market conditions and undermining legitimate facilities’ achievement of recycling targets.
