On June 18, within the framework of the eighth edition of the International Recovery and Recycling Fair (SRR 2024), SIGRAUTO organized the “X National Meeting on Management and Recycling of End-of-Use Vehicles”. which was attended by around 400 people, mainly from Authorized Treatment Centers (CATs) – which is the name that car scrapyards currently have – along with representatives of vehicle manufacturers and importers, fragmenters, recyclers and public administrations.
The President of SIGRAUTO Mr. Ernesto Salas wanted to thank all the attendees and the speakers for their participation in the Meeting – especially those who had come from abroad – and dedicated some nice words to his predecessor in office Mr. Carlos Mataix. In his speech, Mr. Salas pointed out that the automobile is an example of a circular economy and that Spain is in a prominent position in this area thanks largely to the close collaboration between the affected sectors within SIGRAUTO.
Proposal For A European Regulation On End-Of-Life Vehicles
The Meeting began with a block of presentations moderated by the General Director of SIGRAUTO – Mr. Manuel Kindelan – and in which participated: Mr. Jaco Huisman as the European Commission’s representative in the field of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), Ms. Silvia Vecchione as the person responsible for the environmental area of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and Mr. Alejandro Navazas from EURIC of the European Confederation of Recycling Industries.
The intervention of the representative of the European Commission focused on the points of the proposed Regulation on which the most comments have been received, exposing the Commission’s position on each of them, making it clear that, at this time of negotiation, it could not give many details. Among these points is the improvement of certain definitions and especially that of plastic – agreeing to consider only recyclable thermoplastics – the improvement of circularity through, among other things, the establishment of a minimum content of recycled materials in new vehicles, or the scope of expanded producer responsibility. Regarding treatment, he admitted that there has been a lot of discussion regarding the mandatory removal of parts in the CATs, and attempts are being made to assign each piece and material the appropriate size. The Commission’s proposal makes it clear that only CATs can scrap vehicles and recover parts.
Finally, Jaco Huisman spoke about the possible deadlines, pointing out that, due to the break that has occurred with the European elections, the parliament will begin its work in September and it is foreseeable that the final text will not be published until the end of 2025 or even the beginning of 2026.
Next, Silvia Vecchione presented the points of the Regulation that currently most concern vehicle manufacturers and that largely coincide with those presented by Mr. Huisman, but highlighted that automobiles at the end of their useful life are a valuable asset and that the proposed Regulation seeks to impose certain obligations on automobile producers that they cannot assume.
Finally, Mr. Alejandro Navazas pointed out that ACEA and Euric largely agree on their position regarding the proposed Regulation and especially on the issue of the mandatory removal of certain parts in the CATs before the automobiles are fragmented where both associations, as well as Like many other economic agents, they consider that the withdrawal of parts should be based on market demand and that technological neutrality should be maintained. The points where ACEA and Euric have the greatest discrepancies are those related to the content of recycled material in new vehicles where Euric does consider that it is important that there be a “closed cycle” recycled content objective.
Signing Of The Collaboration Agreement Between The Spanish, Italian And Portuguese Desguace Associations
The Presidents of the Spanish Automobile Scrapping and Recycling Association (AEDRA) – Mr. Germán Catoira, of the Associazione Nazionale Demolitori Autoveicoli (ADA) Mr. Anselmo Calò and of the National Association of Vehicle Abatement Centers (ANCAV) signed this agreement with which they commit to undertake joint action before the European institutions defending the ten points that they consider should be taken into account in any regulations on end-of-use vehicles.
The Levels Of Recovery In The EU And Spain
The General Director of SIGRAUTO Mr. Manuel Kindelan explained the regulations that regulate the measurement of levels and highlighted the lack of reliability of the data reported by many countries. Next, he explained in great detail the results of the latest level measurement test carried out by SIGRAUTO, highlighting the high reliability of the levels obtained and which practically reach the 95% weight recovery established as an objective by the European Union.
The Management Of Vehicles At The End Of Their Useful Life In Spain
For the analysis of the regulatory framework of the VFVUs in Spain, the following were present: Mr. Francisco Ruiz Boada – Deputy Director General of Mobility and Technology of the DGT, Mr. Víctor Calzadilla – General Subdirectorate of Quality and Industrial Safety of the MINTUR, Ms. Arancha García-Hermo – Industry and Environment Area Director of ANFAC Mr. Rafael Pardo – General Director of AEDRA, and Ms. Alicia García-Franco – General Director of FER.
Mr. Ruiz Boada stressed that the system for processing sick leave in Spain is the most advanced in the entire European Union and a great success story in public-private collaboration. He also pointed out that progress is being made in digitizing the process to achieve “zero paper” and that work is being done on an agreement with AEDRA to this end.
Mr. Calzadilla focused his presentation on highlighting the important changes that the new Regulation will introduce in the approval of the recyclability of vehicles, especially the content of recycled material, the circularity passport, etc.
Ms. García Hermo explained how the extended producer responsibility obligations are being fulfilled and wanted to clarify some aspects that are being questioned. In his presentation he highlighted the commitment of producers to the circular economy and to continue advancing and improving the possible deficiencies of the adopted system, but taking into account at all times that all the analyzes and studies carried out reflect that Spain has the most efficient and with better results and conditions for citizens.
Mr. Pardo highlighted the importance of the close collaboration that has existed for more than two decades between manufacturers, scrapyards and fragmenters in Spain and that has allowed us to have the most advanced regulations in the European Union and to be a benchmark. European. He also presented the ten points that the scrapyard associations ADA, AEDRA and ANCAV consider should be taken into account in any regulations on end-of-life vehicles.
Finally, Ms. García Franco emphasized that the Spanish system is a model of success, highlighting then that the proposed Regulation has lights and shadows and asked that legislators avoid further unnecessary bureaucracy and technical requirements without scientific comparison.
Delivery Of The 4th Edition Of The Sigrauto Awards For Innovation In Recovery
The “Giving Ceremony of the 4th edition of the SIGRAUTO Awards for Innovation in Recovery” was then held. The winners were:
Given the quality of the project, a second prize without financial award was granted to the project presented by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) whose objective is to reintroduce rubber from out-of-use tires to replace virgin rubber. Mr. José Fayos was in charge of collecting the award from the President of SIGRAUTO, Mr. Ernesto Salas, and briefly presenting the project below.
The second prize was on this occasion awarded ex aequo to two projects – endowed with €2,000 each – and were awarded to the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) projects called CIRPLACAR whose objective is to improve the circular economy of plastic waste from automotive and Reciclauto called Ekumex, which investigates the separation and recycling of PUR present in ELVs.
Mr. Rafael García Muñoz was in charge of collecting the award given to the URJC from the Vice President of SIGRAUTO, Ms. Arancha García Hermo.
Mr. Josep Mª Escolano was in charge of collecting the award given to Reciclauto from the Secretary General of SIGRAUTO, Mr. Rafael Pardo.
The First Prize Winner – awarded €10,000 – was TATUINE Environment’s TKNOWCAT project, which is focused on improving efficiency in the recovery of electronic boards from ELVs.
The Technical Secretary of SIGRAUTO, Ms. Alicia García Franco, presented the award to Mr. Javier Sabroso.
Finally, Mr. Ernesto Salas, President of SIGRAUTO, proceeded to close the to the next edition that will take place in 2026.
In the Events section of the SIGRAUTO website, you can find images of the different moments of the Meeting as well as summary videos of all the interventions.
