EU recycling move for old vehicles

Avrupa Birliği (AB) has adopted new regulations aimed at recycling end-of-life vehicles without harming the environment and reintegrating them into the economy. These regulations target the more efficient use of resources in the automotive sector and the reduction of environmental impacts. Under the new rules, it is planned to increase the use of recycled materials, impose new responsibilities on vehicle manufacturers, and strictly supervise end-of-life vehicles. Approved by the AB Konseyi, this regulation aims to strengthen the circular economy model and reintroduce critical raw materials into production processes. Additionally, preventing illegal vehicle dismantling and unregistered exports is among the objectives.

According to the new regulation, six years after the rules enter into force, at least yüzde 15 of the plastic used in newly produced vehicles must be obtained from recycled materials. This ratio will be increased to yüzde 25 10 years after the regulation enters into force. Furthermore, at least yüzde 20 of the recycled plastic used will be required to consist of materials recovered from end-of-life vehicles. This step aims to reduce plastic waste in the automotive sector and encourage recycling. Through this, AB aims to both prevent environmental pollution and reduce raw material dependency.

New responsibilities are being imposed on automobile manufacturers within the scope of the regulation. Manufacturers will be held responsible not only for the production process of the vehicles but also for the stages after the end of their useful life. In this context, manufacturers will assume financial and organizational obligations regarding the design of vehicles for recycling, the free collection of end-of-life vehicles, and their recycling in compliance with environmental standards. This regulation aims to spread the circular economy approach in the automotive sector and improve waste management.

The new rules also aim to prevent the sale of end-of-life vehicles as second-hand and their export outside the AB. Authorities state that only vehicles determined to be in an unusable condition can be processed at authorized recycling facilities. Thus, it is aimed to prevent illegal vehicle dismantling and unregistered exports. Additionally, the export of used vehicles that are not roadworthy to third countries will be banned. With these steps, both the prevention of environmental pollution and the evaluation of recyclable raw materials within Avrupa Birliği are aimed for.

The new regulation will apply in full to passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Trucks, motorcycles, and special-purpose vehicles will be subject to more limited obligations. With this practice, AB aims to strengthen the circular economy model while reintroducing critical raw materials into production processes. The regulation aims to increase resource efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint in the automotive sector. Experts state that such regulations could set an example for other regions as well.