ÖTASAD’s “Automotive Recycling Development Project” aims to modernize automotive recycling practices in Turkey. In line with new EU directives, this initiative involves all stakeholders to boost environmental and economic benefits, improve current processes, and propose legislative changes for sustainable and efficient recycling. Gunay Dar, ÖTASAD Chairman, Beker Recycle General Manager, and TOBB Waste and Recycling Industry Council Member, shares more details.
Due to recent EU recycling directives, a national update on automotive recycling processes is needed. ÖTASAD plans to conduct a comprehensive project involving all sector stakeholders to assess and improve these practices based on EU standards and existing Turkish legislation.
Key components of the “Automotive Recycling Development Project” include:
- Maximizing Raw Material Recovery: Focus on environmental and human health, economic value through part reuse, and reducing the informal economy by formalizing the recycling system.
- Stakeholder Coordination: Organizing technical trips, symposiums, and workshops with institutions, NGOs, universities, sector representatives, the relevant ministry, TOBB, and ÖTASAD to analyze current procedures and establish guidelines. Final reports will be submitted to the relevant authorities by the end of 2024.
- Recycling Electric/Hybrid Vehicles: Developing national legislation, determining recycling procedures and techniques, establishing standards for handling damaged EV/HEVs, and setting occupational standards for technical personnel.
- Revising the ELV Regulation: Updating the scope to include more vehicle categories, defining total damage/ELVs, non-reusable parts, inspection and control responsibilities, and including these in the new regulation amendment.
- Hardware/Equipment Standards: Requiring facilities to have certified equipment for ELV purification, dismantling, and waste storage processes.
- Recording System: Implementing a camera system in purification and dismantling facilities for monitoring processes and ensuring waste records are accurately maintained and entered into environmental systems.
- Parts Replacement During Auto Repair: Licensed facilities will collect and barcode reusable parts, sending wastes to licensed recovery and disposal facilities, creating an inventory, and labeling reusable parts.
- Reuse Part Standards: The recent Insurance Law (5684) allows the use of certified equivalent parts for damage repair. The relevant ministries need to publish the “principles and procedures” for this process, with working groups involving official institutions, NGOs, and sector representatives to ensure compliance with EU standards and sector needs.
This initiative seeks to create a robust, efficient, and environmentally friendly automotive recycling system in Turkey.
