What?
An end-of-life vehicle (ELV) is a specified vehicle, such as a car, which is discarded or is required to be discarded by its registered owner as waste.
Vehicles normally reach the end of their useful lives, either due to age (typically around 12-14 years), or because of heavy damage following an accident. There is no fixed age, therefore, at which a vehicle can be considered an end-of-life vehicle
Where?
The registered owner is obligated to take their end-of-life vehicle to an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) for recycling.
Many Local Authorities list the ATFs in their area on their website and the compliance scheme for end-of-life vehicles, ELVES, also lists ATFs on their website, www.elves.ie.
How?
An end-of-life vehicle must be deposited at an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) for recycling.
If your car is complete and free of rubbish, depositing it at an ATF should be free of charge. Some ATFs are also able to offer a collection service. ELVES indicate this service on their website, here.
When you deposit your car at the ATF, they should issue you with a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). This will end your responsibility for your vehicle. Only an ATF can issue you with a CoD.
You will need to provide the ATF with the vehicle registration document (logbook) or ID.
Why?
End-of-life vehicles contain non-renewable materials and are highly recyclable. Taking them to an ATF for recycling protects the environment and helps Ireland meet the 85% reuse and recycling and 95% reuse and recovery targets for end-of-life vehicles.
General Comment / Tip
If an end-of-life vehicle is deposited at an unauthorised facility, the registered owner will not receive a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). A CoD notifies the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) held by the Department of Transport that the vehicle has been scrapped and ends the registered owner’s responsibility for that vehicle.
The compliance scheme for end-of-life vehicles is called ELVES. ELVES works to improve the recycling of end-of-life vehicles in Ireland, including making sure the national reuse and recycling targets for ELVs are met.
On the ELVES website you can find a list of ATFs that will take your car for recycling. You can also find further information on why and how to recycle your car, how to identify an ATF and getting a Certificate of Destruction www.elves.ie.