Ihlow, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Berlin: February 29, 2024 – Last week in Ihlow near Emden, Member of European Parliament, Jens Gieseke (EPP), held an insightful conversation with representatives of the recycling associations bvse, BDSV, VDM and EuRIC about future challenges and opportunities in the automotive industry. The discussion, which took place at the end-of-life car recycler RETEK AG in Ihlow, offered Jens Giesecke MEP, rapporteur for the ELV regulation in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, an insight into the industry’s pressing issues.
The meeting began with an overview of the positions of the associations present on the planned ELV regulation. Jens Giesecke MEP assured the representatives of the recycling associations that their concerns will be dealt with intensively after the European elections and the summer break.
Jens Gieseke explained that the current challenges facing the automotive industry, including issues of industrial emissions and producer responsibility, are part of a broader context that also includes transport policy and the development of environmentally friendly technologies. He emphasized the importance of pragmatic solutions that make both ecological and economic sense.
The representatives of the three recycling associations: Federal Association of Secondary Raw Materials and Disposal eV (bvse), the Federal Association of German Steel Recycling and Waste Disposal Companies eV (BDSV), also represented by the board of the Car Reassembly Specialist Group (FAR), the Association of German Metal Dealers and Recyclers eV (VDM) and the European recycling umbrella organization EuRIC took the opportunity to present their concerns to local European politicians.
The associations’ main demands are:
Future legislation should only allow vehicles to be deregistered if there is proof of recycling in order to curb illegal waste disposal. The recycling associations expressly welcome this and underline the importance of consistent implementation and effective enforcement of this measure.
In addition, the associations demand that the dismantling requirements for car recyclers must be both ecologically and economically justifiable. Particular attention must be paid to the occupational and occupational safety conditions for vehicles involved in accidents. In addition, manufacturers should be made more responsible, especially when it comes to the disposal and recycling of vehicles.
Responsibilities should be clearly assigned so that the burden is not shifted exclusively to the recyclers. The associations emphasize the urgency of these measures against the background of the current environmental impact caused by improperly recycled end-of-life vehicles and the need to strengthen the recycling industry. They call on all affected stakeholders to work together constructively to overcome the challenges ahead and find sustainable solutions.
Following the discussion, participants received a tour of RETEK AG’s dismantling plant to gain an insight into the vehicle recycling process. MEP Jens Gieseke concluded by saying he was pleased with the constructive exchange and emphasized the importance of close cooperation between politics, industry and recycling associations in order to jointly develop sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the automotive industry. It was agreed to continue the dialogue that had begun successfully.
Source BDSV
