| If you've ever wondered what happens to old or | | | | Remember that only an ATF facility is legally |
| out-of-use cars, you're not alone. With all the cars | | | | allowed to receive your vehicle and to issue a |
| being driven on UK roads - and about 2 million | | | | Certificate of Destruction to the DVLA, who can |
| cars reaching the end of their life per year - it's a | | | | then remove your vehicle from their database |
| valid point to ask where they all go when they | | | | and relieve you of legal and car insurance cover |
| become too old or broken down to drive. | | | | responsibility for the vehicle. You can also go |
| Many people sell their cars when they want a | | | | through a junkyard or scrap metal yard, which |
| new or replacement vehicle. But even | | | | would pay you upfront for the vehicle, then send |
| second-hand cars have a limited lifetime if they're | | | | the vehicle to an ATF before breaking it up for |
| used on a regular basis. | | | | parts. After de-pollution, all the car's parts and |
| The answer is increasingly found in car recycling. | | | | materials are ready for recycling. |
| In 2004, the European Union approved a Directive, | | | | So why recycle your car? To begin, it's good for |
| specifying that vehicles could not be broken up | | | | the environment. Certain car parts - such as |
| for their parts - for scrap metal, for example - | | | | some types of metals - can be melted down and |
| until any contaminant parts, liquids and gases were | | | | reused. Also, when you recycle your car, you can |
| removed. In 2005, the UK implemented its own | | | | be sure that hazardous fluids and materials such |
| legislation, called the End of Life Vehicle (ELV) | | | | as oil, gas, antifreeze and brake fluid will be |
| Directive, which ensured that as much of a | | | | disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. |
| vehicle was recycled as possible, while still ensuring | | | | In addition, many people who recycle their cars |
| that hazardous materials were dealt with properly. | | | | take advantage of a tax deduction eligibility - also |
| The directive's target is currently o have 95 per | | | | applicable if you donate your vehicle to a charity. |
| cent of ELV vehicles recycled by 2015. | | | | And finally, recycling your car is simple. You often |
| But there are very specific processes to car | | | | only have to drive it to an ATF, or you can call to |
| recycling, which all car owners should be aware of. | | | | have it picked up. With all the advantages to |
| The entire process starts at an Authorised | | | | recycling a vehicle, it simply makes sense to take |
| Treatment Facility (ATF), where the vehicle can | | | | all the necessary steps towards recycling when |
| be "de-polluted" before it's recycled for its parts. | | | | your car reaches the end of its life. |