Recycling of end-of-life vehicles in the Netherlands, 1993-2002

An ever-larger proportion of cars qualify for recycling. Specialised vehicle wrecking companies process approximately 90% of end-of-life vehicles.

Recycling of end-of-life vehicles

An ever-larger proportion of cars qualify for recycling. In 2002, approximately 86% (in weight) of end-of-life vehicles were re-used. In 1993, this figure was more than 72%. Reuse includes recycling and reuse before reaching the shredder and reuse after the shredder phase. The non-reusable materials are sent to landfill.

Use of specialised vehicle wrecking companies

Specialised vehicle wrecking companies process approximately 90% of the total supply of end-of-life vehicles. They remove the materials for which there are good recycling options. They work on behalf of Auto Recycling Nederland (ARN), an organisation established in 1995 by parties including the automobile industry in the Netherlands.
The number of vehicle dismantling companies fell from approximately 2,100 to some 850 between 1987 and 2000. In addition the companies are now expected to meet strict environmental requirements such as anti-soil contamination measures.
The vehicle wrecking companies receive a premium for their work that is financed by the compulsory disposal charge levied on all cars registered in the Netherlands. For 2001-2003, this charge was reduced from EUR 70 to EUR 45.

Policy for the recycling of vehicles

The policy intended to reduce the number of vehicle wrecking companies and to maximize the recycling percentage of vehicles withdrawn for scrap came into effect in the mid-1980s. The European Directive states that, by 2006, at least 85% by weight of materials used in cars should be excluded from the waste flow through some form of recycling. The Netherlands had almost met this objective as early as 2000.
The draft End-of-Life Vehicle Management Decree (VROM, 2001) that came into effect at the start of April 2002 follows this guideline exactly. The aim is mainly to prevent or limit the proliferation of end-of-life vehicles, as well as to tighten up the environmental requirements to be met by the vehicle wrecking companies. Although the European directive requires 95% reuse in 2015, the Dutch system should result in the recycling objectives being met as early as 2005.

References

CBS (2003). Statline. Uitval van voertuigen. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
ARN (2003). Milieujaarverslag 2002. Stichting Auto & Recycling en Auto Recycling Nederland BV, Amsterdam.
VROM (2001). Wet Milieubeheer. Ontwerp-Besluit beheer autowrakken. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

More information about end-of-life vehicles withdrawn from the registered fleet of cars can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands), and the ARN. Auto Recycling Nederland (ARN) was established by the Dutch automobile industry to make drastic reductions in the amount of waste from scrap vehicles.