Recuperaciones Valdizarbe says Spain’s ELV sector is moving from traditional dismantling towards professional, digitally driven reuse. For authorised recyclers, growth depends on better stock data, online sales, warranties, traceability and investment in safer, more efficient facilities, while tackling unauthorised operators and building public trust in reused parts.
Javier Goñi, Director Comercial at Recuperaciones Valdizarbe SL, in Spain, discusses how the family-run authorised treatment facility (ATF) in Navarra has evolved from a traditional dismantling business into a more professional, digitally focused operation. He also reflects on Spain’s ageing vehicle parc, the growth of reused parts sales, and the challenges facing authorised recyclers as the sector moves further towards circularity.
From family dismantler to professional ATF
Recuperaciones Valdizarbe is a family-run authorised treatment facility (ATF) located in Navarra, in northern Spain, and we have been working in vehicle recycling for many years. Like many companies in the sector, we began in the 1990s as a traditional family-run dismantling business. Over time, we have evolved towards much more professionalised processes and operations, focused on environmental compliance, optimising structured dismantling procedures and, above all, the online sale of used parts for reuse.
We were pioneers in this area and have been present on leading online sales channels in the sector for almost the entire period, for both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sales. We work with Ecooparts, Ovoko, eBay, B-Parts, Opisto, Recambiofácil and others.
We are also currently undertaking a major expansion of our facilities. With an investment of close to €4 million, we have quadrupled our vehicle treatment capacity. The new dismantling area is organised around 11 independent lifts, operating as a semi-continuous system in which each workstation functions autonomously.
At these workstations, we carry out both depollution and vehicle dismantling, allowing us to work more safely and efficiently, with greater control over our processes.
For us, this investment clearly reflects the direction the sector needs to move: more professional facilities, better processes, and a stronger focus on recovering reusable parts within the circular economy.
Today, our activities include receiving end-of-life vehicles, carrying out depollution and dismantling, recovering reusable parts, and managing the permanent deregistration of end-of-life vehicles.
I also currently chair the Navarra Association of Vehicle Dismantlers (ANADRA) and sit on the Board of Directors of the Spanish Association of Vehicle Dismantlers (AEDRA). I believe one of our responsibilities is to play an active role in modernising the sector and explaining the environmental value of what we do.
An ageing vehicle parc and a reuse paradox
Spain has one of the oldest vehicle fleets in Europe, and this clearly drives demand for reused parts. Many vehicles on the road today are more than 15 years old, so when they need repairs, reused parts are often the most cost-effective option.
At the same time, the flow of vehicles reaching the end of their life does not always reflect the actual age of the vehicle fleet. We are currently receiving vehicles with an average age of more than 20 years. Many cars remain in circulation for longer than expected.
This creates a situation in which demand for reused parts remains strong, but the number of vehicles entering authorised treatment facilities is not always as high as it could be in theory. In addition, as the age of the vehicles we receive increases, our opportunities for parts recovery decrease.
It is a vicious circle, but it is the reality we have to deal with.
Digital sales drive commercial growth
Today, the greatest growth is clearly linked to the professionalisation of the sale of reused parts. Customers are looking for affordable repairs, but they also want warranties, traceability and fast delivery. The companies that catalogue their stock well and sell efficiently through digital channels are the ones moving forward fastest.
Looking ahead, I see major opportunities in three main areas: Digitalisation of inventory and sales.
Recovery of parts from more modern vehicles, which contain higher-value components.
The growth of circular economy policies in Europe, which increasingly recognise reuse as a key step before recycling. Public authorities need to introduce measures that support the use of reusable parts in vehicle repairs, rather than focusing only on incentives for the sale of electric vehicles.
Regulation, fraud and technology raise the bar
I see several major challenges. On the one hand, regulation is becoming increasingly demanding. This is positive for the sector’s professionalisation, but it also requires investment and better organisation by authorised recyclers. Digitalisation is also a major challenge for many companies. Today, selling reused parts requires good data, efficient logistics and reliable stock management.
Another important issue is unfair competition from unauthorised operators who sell parts without any control or traceability. This creates confusion in the market and damages consumer confidence. In addition, in Spain, we are beginning to see a growing problem that I suspect is also emerging in other European countries: identity theft involving legitimate companies online. Some fraudulent operators duplicate websites, legal details and even the identities of real businesses to appear as if they are authorised treatment facilities. This creates significant confusion for consumers and, above all, damages the reputation of the entire sector.
Companies and associations are trying to stop these practices by reporting them whenever they are detected. However, in many cases, the justice system is lagging well behind the criminals behind these activities.
Finally, the sector must adapt to technological changes in vehicles, especially with the arrival of hybrid and electric vehicles, which require new training and safety procedures.
Reused parts as a circular economy solution
I believe reused parts will become increasingly important. For many years, they have been seen mainly as a low-cost alternative, but today they should also be understood as a clear circular-economy solution.
Reusing a component avoids the environmental impact of manufacturing a new one and helps extend the useful life of vehicles. If the automotive sector wants to make serious progress towards circularity, reuse must play a central role, and authorised recyclers are an important part of that.
If public authorities also supported us more with policies focused on the use and reuse of these types of parts, achieving those objectives would be possible.
Building trust in modern vehicle recycling
In Spain, the vehicle recycling sector has made huge progress in recent years, and my colleagues have become highly professionalised. Today, authorised treatment facilities operate under increasingly controlled processes, greater parts traceability, and stricter environmental requirements.
However, we still face an important challenge: explaining more clearly to consumers what we actually do in a modern dismantling facility, and why parts recovered for reuse are a reliable, safe, sustainable, and economical option.
If we can communicate this more effectively and continue making progress in digitalisation and professionalisation, vehicle recycling will no longer be seen solely as waste management but as a key part of the automotive circular economy.
Further Reading on Auto Recycling World
- Spain’s ELV Model Faces A Turning Point
- Digital Dismantlers: Driving the Circular Car Economy Online
- Circular Economy Commissioner Explores ELV Processes
- AEDRA Leads Crucial Dialogue On Future European Regulations For Vehicle Recycling At Motortec 2025
