Fingal County Council Tackles Illegal Breaking Yards
Did you know 85% of your old car can be recycled when it’s time to scrap it? Were you aware you’re required by law to dispose of your old car at a permitted scrapyard or authorised treatment facility (ATF) to get a certificate of destruction (COD)?
Did you know 85% of your old car can be recycled when it’s time to scrap it? Were you aware you’re required by law to dispose of your old car at a permitted scrapyard or authorised treatment facility (ATF) to get a certificate of destruction (COD)? If you don’t you could be facing a €100 fine or even worse, upon summary conviction in a district court, a fine of up to €5,000. Fingal County Council has identified several illegal car breaking yards or End of Life Vehicle (ELV) sites using satellite imagery, drones and local knowledge. The Waste Enforcement Unit plan to regularise all unauthorised sites operating without planning permission and a facility permit during 2020 and to close down sites not complying with the European Union (End of Life Vehicles) Regulations 2014. A number of unauthorised ELV sites have been inspected to date and this work will continue throughout 2020. To ensure there is no recurrence of illegal activity, waste enforcement officers will carry out regular monitoring post site closure with the support of An Garda Síochána and other State Agencies.
An ELV is a vehicle which is discarded or is intended to be discarded by its registered owner as waste/ scrap e.g. a car or commercial vehicle which has reached the end of its life. Unauthorised storage and dismantling of ELV’s poses a significant risk to the environment. ELV’s contain a range of hazardous materials such as waste oils, lead acid batteries, lubricating oil, coolant and brake fluid which can cause pollution if not disposed of properly.
Unauthorised ELV sites are used for dismantling and selling second-hand car parts. The sites don’t have appropriate infrastructure in place, nor do they adhere to environmentally sound practices in terms of car dismantling and management of hazardous wastes. Old or damaged vehicles stored on permeable surfaces can leak fluids with liquids entering the ground causing pollution.
Help protect the environment and bring your old car to an Authorised Treatment facility (ATF). These sites have a Waste Facility Permit and the necessary infrastructure in place for storing, treating and recovering ELV’s in an environmentally friendly way. You can check the National Waste Collection Permit Office website to see if a site has a permit - www.nwcpo.ie. To be an ATF the permit should include the List of Wastes (LoW) Code '16 01 04* End-of-Life Vehicles'.
Best of all, owners of old cars can deposit these Free-of-Charge at an ATF with three located within Fingal:
1/ Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Ltd. Web: www.gannonscityrecovery.ie
2/ Industrial, Agri & Engineering Salvage Ltd. (IAES). Web: www.scrapmycar.ie
3/ St. Margaret’s Recycling and Transfer Centre Ltd. Web: www.stmargaretsrecycling.ie
Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien commented “By recycling End of Life Vehicles we ensure that old car parts including hazardous materials are managed appropriately, protecting our communities and local environment. This approach supports the circular economy while saving valuable raw materials for industry.”
Fingal County Council Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly said: “A campaign to increase public awareness around End of Life Vehicles is underway. This will support the ongoing work of the Environment Section in tackling illegal car breaking yards within Fingal. Significant progress has been made to date with several illegal sites closed down contributing towards higher reuse and recovery rates at authorised facilities”.
Further information on End of Life Vehicles is available at ELVES: https://www.elves.ie/How-to-Recycle or by contacting Fingal County Council - Environment Section Tel: 01 8905000, Email: [email protected] .
