Informed sources told The Malta Independent on Sunday that the situation regarding the adoption of the End of Life Vehicle Directive is worrying to say the least. Malta is still far behind when it comes to adopting this all-important directive and, like other EU member States including Britain, could face stiff penalties as a result of non-compliance.
Additionally, this newspaper was told that the Association of Car Importers has made proposals to set up an End of Life Vehicle Centre. However, due to economies of scale, the price to scrap a car would probably cost around Lm1,250 per vehicle. If the situation remains as it is, this cost would presumably have to be borne by the consumer.
The ELV Directive has a series of target dates that apply to government, car importers and the general public alike, all of whom are responsible for the de-pollution of all hazardous substances present in a vehicle when it is scrapped.
This includes the removal and destruction of all gases, heavy metals (lead, etc.), chromium residue and battery acids. The directive also provides guidelines on the recycling of materials such as glass, rubber, upholstery, plastics and also radiator fluid.
Additionally, the specifications for setting up an ELV
centre are quite exacting. One of the most important features is that cars must be placed on a concrete base at least one metre thick, which contains all-pollutant traps. The equipment used is similar to a robot: the vehicle is first placed on a conveyor belt that will extract all the liquid pollutants. After that process is completed, all that is recyclable is extracted and the rest of the vehicle is crushed.
No such centre has been set up in Malta where end of life vehicles are very often disposed of in illegal scrap yards, operating without the above specifications.
European countries that have adopted the ELV Directive also have to use tyre shredders so that rubber is separated from the metal strands inside the tyre. Currently, Spain is heavily involved in tyre recycling and the material is used in roads, athletics tracks, stadiums, and also in private driveways as a substitute for gravel.
Turning to the costs incurred when disposing of a car, the UK currently charges GBP50, which is paid by the local council. ELV centres in the UK are currently very busy and operate 12-hour days. The business is turning out to be very profitable as the saleable parts taken from these vehicles cost nothing at all.
Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday, a source in the automotive industry said that Wasteserv is currently looking into the ELV specifications, which requires a minimum investment of at least Lm500,000: fairly prohibitive for any private investor. The amount of work required to set up an ELV centre is also pretty significant, as, apart from the stringent environmental regulations that must be observed, a large area of land is required.
“Three companies submitted their proposals but these fell flat on their face because the final cost to scrap a car was too steep. Eventually, Wasteserv will have to set up their own ELV Centre and the cost being mooted around is a very reasonable Lm90 per car,” the source explained.
The EU is quite strict on the implementation of this directive. The UK came in line with the directive on 1 January of this year. Before that date, it was being fined a prohibitive GBP100,000 per day. The deadline being proposed for Malta is 31 August 2007, by which time car importers will be responsible for the end of life of any vehicle they sell.
This newspaper was also informed that the Association of Car Importers has plans to set up its own ELV Centre, but at around Lm1,250 per vehicle, the cost is rather astronomical. “The government is biding its time but the directive will have to be adopted sooner or later. We cannot maintain this status quo, with a multitude of illegal scrap yards polluting the environment and making a lot of money in the process,” the source added.