Seven Years of Success as ELVES Exceeds Reuse, Recycling and Recovery Targets Again
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the final national figures for End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) processing in Ireland for the year 2024. For the seventh consecutive year, ELVES, the producer compliance scheme for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) in Ireland, has ensured that national reuse, recycling and recovery targets have been successfully achieved and exceeded.
The released figures reveal that Ireland achieved a national ELV reuse and recycling rate of 92% and an overall combined reuse and recovery rate of 99%. These figures are the highest achieved to date and exceed the targets set under the ELV Directive (2000/53/EC) of 85% reuse and recycling and 95% reuse and recovery of ELVs
Since first meeting the ELV targets in 2018, Ireland has unfailingly maintained full compliance with the EU set targets. Recent years have seen a steady increase in target achievement with 2023 figures of 89.48% and 97.17% improving on 2022 figures of 88.5% and 95.5%
ELVES contributes significantly to this national success through the funding of additional recycling that would not normally occur otherwise. In addition to the ELV targets, ELVES also works to improve the processing of ELVs through raising awareness about the correct way to scrap vehicles. ELVES’ messaging to the public is simple, when scrapping a vehicle, only deal with a permitted recycler, known as an ATF (Authorised Treatment Facility), and get a CoD (Certificate of Destruction) where applicable. A CoD ends the owners’ responsibility for their scrapped car or small van. In 2024, the ELVES Network of ATFs processed over 78% of the total CoDs issued nationally.
According to Fiacra Quinn, CEO of ELVES, “Since its formation in 2017, ELVES has partnered with the hardworking ATFs across our network, to steadily improve overall reuse and recycling rates, consistently meeting and exceeding targets since 2018.
We congratulate everyone involved and view these most recent results as formal recognition of the collective efforts of the industry. Ireland must continue to prioritise the reuse, recycling, and recovery of valuable materials from ELVs as part of its transition to a circular economy and ELVES will continue to play its part.”
ELVES is currently processing 2025 ELV data and will continue to support national ELV target achievement. Find out more about how to recycle your vehicle and the location of your nearest ELVES ATF at www.elves.ie.
To read more about the 2024 ELV reuse and recycling + reuse and recovery statistics: https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/waste/national-waste-statistics/end-of-life-vehicles/
NOTE
Under the current ELV Directive (2000/53/EC) End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) are cars or light commercial vehicles (weighing less than 3.5 tonnes) discarded as waste. Vehicle owners are legally required to deposit their ELVs at a permitted vehicle recycler, known as an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). Failure to properly recycle ELVs results in the loss of millions of tonnes of valuable materials, including metals that could otherwise be reused, recycled, or recovered as part of the European circular economy.
The forthcoming EU ELV Regulations 2026 will replace and expand on the scope of the outgoing ELV Directive to include more vehicle types as well as introducing targets for new vehicle manufacturing such as minimum recycled plastic content to promote circularity.