Avoid fines - recycle your car (From Your Local Guardian)

Avoid fines - recycle your car

12:11pm Monday 2nd June 2008 in

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Car owners across the UK could end up with unnecessary fines and prosecution by not disposing of their old cars properly. That is the warning from Recycleyourcar.co.uk - a national website which helps owners recycle their old cars in an environmentally friendly way.

Despite the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive being introduced to the UK almost two years ago, the majority of car owners are still unaware of their obligations under the Europe-wide legislation, with many breaking the law each year. To help owners dispose of their old vehicles correctly and stay on the right side of the law, Recycleyourcar.co.uk has produced a series of ten essential hints and tips: 1. Knowing when enough is enough There comes a point in the lifespan of every car when prolonging its life is no longer a practical or safe option. Upkeep and maintenance may be costing too much or it may no longer be safe enough to be on the road. At this point the best option is to safely dispose of the car. By doing this you are ensuring that the vehicle cannot be of harm to other road users and also making sure it does not end up illegally dumped, allowing harmful fluids to seep into the environment.

2. Your car, your responsibility Once a car is registered in a person's name, that person is then legally responsible for it until it is sold to another person or disposed off. Therefore, it is the registered keeper's responsibility to ensure that when the time comes, the vehicle is disposed of safely and legally - not being aware of the law is not an excuse!

3. Make sure it's authorised When owners decide it's time to scrap their old car, they need to make sure that the company chosen for disposal is an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). Checking this is as simple as contacting the facility to ask if they have this status, or using the Recycleyourcar.co.uk online database which contains a list of all licensed ATFs in the UK.

4. How much will it cost?

The ELV directive states that there should be no cost to the owner of the car when it comes to disposing of their end of life vehicle. In fact, depending on the metals market, drivers could be paid for their cars, so there could be a small profit to be made.

5. Have your documents to hand Drivers won't be able to dispose of their car without being able to prove they own it. To do so, they will need to present their vehicle registration document (the V5c form) to the chosen ATF along with their vehicle registration document. Oh, and don't forget the car.

6. Get certified When the registered keeper hands their car over for disposal, they will be issued with a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). This will transfer ownership and responsibility for the vehicle over to the ATF. If the ATF cannot issue a CoD there and then, owners should ensure they retain a receipt for their vehicle and arrange for the CoD to posted, or collect it at a later date.

7. Transferring all responsibility The chosen ATF will issue the CoD to the DVLA, ensuring the vehicle is removed from their database and that the owner no longer has legal responsibility. This will make sure that no nasty recriminations come the drivers way.

8. What happens next?

The old car will be taken away and all the harmful fluids such as brake fluid and oil will be removed. The car will then be shredded, separated into different metals and plastics and then recycled. Owners can be safe in the knowledge that all harmful fluids will be disposed of safely, meaning that their old car will be no longer be polluting the environment.

9. Use it, then rate it!

If the ATF used was part of the Recyleyourcar.co.uk network the driver should make sure feedback is left online so the quality of its service can be monitored. Those who leave feedback will be entered into a monthly draw to win £100.

10. Spread the word Drivers can do their bit for the environment by letting friends and family know about the End-of-Life Vehicle Directive and what to do when their car comes to the end of its life. It is not just about protecting the environment; drivers will also avoid heavy fines and being liable for continued road tax bills.