91997E3222

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3222/97 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Commission (16 October 1997)

Subject: Recycling of discarded vehicles

One of the greatest subjects of polemic in the environmental sphere is the recycling of discarded vehicles.

There are a large number of different proposals, ranging from the recommendation that the market should draw up the best solutions, with the cooperation of everybody, to the idea of imposing 'eco-taxes', as in Holland, although there is the risk, according to those opposed to this proposal, that owners may forget their vehicles and abandon them on the street.

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached in regulating this matter, which countries have opted for levying a recycling tax and whether it intends to make any proposals to the Member States to facilitate the solutions agreed on?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1997)

On 9 July 1997, the Commission adopted a proposal for a directive on end of life vehicles ((Doc. COM(97) 358. )). This contains measures in the field of prevention, collection, treatment, recovery, monitoring and information. In particular, it lays down quantified targets for the re-use, recycling and recovery of waste.

With this proposal, the Commission intends to promote the harmonization of national approaches to the problem of end of life vehicles. Initiatives by national authorities or by economic operators exist in certain Member States. These initiatives vary considerably in their content, the year of achievement of the targets, the period of time covered and the nature of the commitments. Initiatives (some including recycling and recovery objectives) have been started in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom.

In order to avoid the risk of vehicles being abandoned in the environment, the proposal for a directive requires that end of life vehicles may be de-registered from public registers only after the delivery of a certificate of destruction issued by an authorized dismantler. Only dismantlers complying with the requirements set out in the directive will receive an authorization to operate and to issue certificates of destruction.