The EPA has published waste data about end-of-life vehicles and waste tyres managed by Authorised Treatment Facilities or other waste management organisations in Ireland in 2014.
While the tonnage of waste tyres managed in authorised facilities increased by 16 per cent between 2012 and 2014, there is still significant uncertainty about the level of unauthorised disposal. The role of a new waste tyre Producer Responsibility Initiative will include collecting information on tyres and waste tyres in the distribution, collection and waste treatment network to meet this data need.
In summary, the EPA found that;
- Ireland met the EU End-of-Life Vehicle Directive targets for 2014 but based on the current reuse, recycling and recovery trends, Ireland is at high risk of missing new, higher targets in force since January 2015.
- Approximately 87,000 end-of-life vehicles were treated in 2014 and 82% of their material was reused or recycled.
- Approximately 28,000 tonnes of waste tyres were managed in 2014; of these 44% were recycled and 36% used as a fuel.
End-of-life vehicles contain valuable resources and are required to be treated at Authorised Treatment Facilities. Such treatment includes draining waste oils and removing parts for reuse or recycling. Treated end-of-life vehicles are then sent to metal shredding facilities to recover metals. In 2014, 82 per cent of end-of-life vehicle material was reused and recycled, meeting Ireland’s EU End-of-Life Vehicle Directive recycling targets for the year. New regulations, published in November, have enabled the appointment of an approved body, End-of-Life Vehicle Environmental Services (ELVES), to represent vehicle producers and be responsible for a national collection system for end-of-life vehicles and achievement of the targets with effect from 1st January 2017.