Marta Witkowska, Managing Director at Scholz Recycling Polska Ltd. (SRP), shares her experience in the auto recycling industry. As a key player in Poland’s end-of-life vehicle (ELV) sector, SRP has successfully developed a network for ELV collection and recycling. Marta discusses the evolution of the industry and current challenges while highlighting the importance of relationships and innovation in her professional journey.
Expertise in ELV Recycling and Industry Collaboration
I’m Managing Director and a Proxy at Scholz Recycling Polska Ltd. (SRP). Our shareholder is Scholz Recycling GmbH, one of the leading steel and metal scrap recycling companies. At Scholz Recycling Polska, we serve as a provider of end-of-life vehicle collection network for car importers in Poland and operate as an authorized treatment facility. Our involvement in various aspects of the industry gives us a deep understanding of the market. While it’s often said that car recyclers and manufacturers have conflicting interests, after nearly 20 years in this field, we are convinced that there are far more shared goals than differences.
Building Poland’s First ELV Treatment Facility: A Challenging Start in Auto Recycling
I completed my M.Sc. in Environmental Protection just as Poland was implementing the ELV Directive and introducing new legislation on end-of-life vehicles. Talk about destiny (laughter)!
My first task was to establish SCHOLZ’s first authorized treatment facility as quickly as possible. It wasn’t easy—no one had practical experience with the new requirements under the law. I had to balance the vision of the architects with administrative demands and coordinate construction workers, who weren’t exactly keen on taking instructions from a young woman. But after a year and a half, I successfully completed the project, and we began operating as an authorized dismantler. It might not have been as quick as I had hoped, but given today’s regulatory environment, it now takes longer than 18 months to get an ELV dismantling business up and running in Poland. This makes me wonder if we’re heading in the right direction with the increasing administrative burden.
During that time, I also teamed up with colleagues from other SCHOLZ companies across Poland to organize a take-back network for end-of-life vehicles. Back then, there simply weren’t enough dismantling facilities to comply with the law. It was a crazy time, but I look back on it with fondness.
I’ve learned many things, and I’ve discovered how much satisfaction brings me in overcoming difficulties and achieving my goals. But the most important thing I’ve learned is that relationships are also invaluable in professional life. It doesn’t matter how much knowledge you have or how experienced you are; you need to build relationships with people you work with to go further.
As a very young professional, I had to earn the trust of car dismantlers, both for the company I represented and for myself. I have immense respect for people in this profession. On many occasions, I could rely on their genuine support, driving hundreds of kilometers in my first business car, a Fiat Seicento, which sometimes had its own ideas about cooperation!
The Evolution of Auto Recycling in Poland: From Simplicity to Regulation
I believe it was generally easier to run a business before the implementation of the ELV Directive. Back then, vehicles were simply accepted at scrap yards without the need for authorized treatment facilities (ATFs).
In northern Poland, Scholz was already operating a shredder, and with advanced post-shredder technology, we were closing the recycling gap for ELVs and secondary materials. Today, the technology is more advanced, volumes are larger, turnover is higher, operations are more dynamic, and the yards are better organized. However, the costs of establishing and running an ATF are now incomparable to those earlier days. Today, factors such as regulatory burdens make ATFs less competitive, especially given that at least 60% of the market operates in the grey economy.
Four years ago, ATFs in Poland had to adapt to new legal requirements. To operate legally, financial security had to be established, meaning money was deposited for each ton of stored waste. ATFs also face strict fire protection requirements, must be monitored online 24/7, and are subject to higher taxes compared to those in the grey area.
When I first visited ATFs in the United States, I was incredibly impressed by the large, well-organized yards. However, I noticed that in some places, there was no impermeable soil protection against oils. I heard the saying, “What comes from the ground needs to go back there,” which, while not meant literally, highlighted the stark difference in regulations. In Poland, we are heavily over-regulated. Entrepreneurs are constantly striving to adjust flexibly to new requirements while growing their businesses. Increasingly, ATFs are focusing on spare parts, which is definitely a positive direction. At Scholz, we are always seeking improvements and better solutions for the recovery and recycling of ELVs.
Today, the strategy requires a smart combination of experience and the progressive use of new technologies. Cars are drastically different now, and car recycling demands an innovative approach.
I’m proud of our long-term cooperation with car importers, as it provides me with valuable insight into both sides of the industry, allowing for a deeper understanding of the entire ecosystem.
Future Challenges and Opportunities in Poland’s Auto Recycling Sector
Today, we are all witnessing the shaping of the future of auto recycling as the new ELV law is being developed. With the release of the EU Council Presidency Steering Note, momentum around the ELV Proposal is growing, and I hope that the Polish Presidency of the Council (January-June 2025) will make it a priority. The new proposal is pivotal for the industry, as all Member States are grappling with common challenges such as uncontrolled transboundary movements of vehicles, missing cars, illegal dismantling, and unclear policies regarding total loss, among others.
For several months, EGARA members, as representatives of 14 countries, had been working on a common position towards End-of-Life Vehicles Proposal. This was challenging work due to differences in the functioning of the ELV recycling systems in individual countries. Thanks to the constructive cooperation, a very important and supportive, also at a national level, document – the EGARA recommendation for amendments on the Proposal for a Circular Vehicle regulation, has been published.
European Union countries need solutions that support legal operators, and the upcoming ELV Regulation must include precise, strict definitions and, most importantly, clear obligations assigned to specific operators. I truly hope the new law will bring us closer to achieving the core goal of the ELV Directive: collecting 100% of end-of-life vehicles.
The Importance of Relationships and Inspiration in Professional Growth
For me, it’s much like in private life—it’s all about relationships and inspiration. I thrive when surrounded by inspiring, passionate, and open-minded people, as well as new challenges and goals. That’s what keeps me productive and engaged. I also stay active in different sports for both my physical health and mental clarity. Often, when I run in the mornings, I find solutions to problems from the day before.
As a little girl, I once told my mother, “I don’t know what I’ll do in my career, but I want to be really good at it.” I’m fortunate to be doing something I truly believe in, and every day, I strive to give it my best.
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