A number of waste disposal and recovery activities, including the dismantling or recovery of vehicles and the recovery of scrap metal and other metal waste, are subject to the requirements of the Waste Management (Permit) Regulations, 1998. Such activities require a permit, with appropriate conditions, which cannot be granted by a local authority unless it is satisfied that the activity will not cause environmental pollution.
In 1998 my Department initiated discussions with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry towards a producer responsibility initiative in relation to old cars or end of life vehicles. Proposals on an ELV management system for Ireland were submitted by SIMI in December 1999. I am currently examining these proposals, and it would be my objective to secure agreement on an acceptable vehicle recovery scheme not later than the autumn.
The SIMI proposal takes account of a draft European Parliament and Council directive on end of life vehicles. This contains a number of provisions, including measures aimed at preventing waste from vehicles; increasing the recovery of ELVs and their components; ensuring that economic operators establish collection systems for all ELVs, and ensuring that vehicles are dismantled and recovered in a manner which does not cause environmental pollution.
