UK Recycling Companies Ban Vehicles from Facilities

European Metal Recycling has announced that it is no longer accepting any type of vehicle at its various scrap yards until further notice. Other auto shredding operations in the UK also have opted to halt the use of the shredder.

The decision has been forced on auto shredders in the UK by a change in laws in the United Kingdom, which has led to uncertainty as to whether landfill operators can continue to accept shredder residue at normal landfill sites.

Senior representatives of the metals recycling industry will meet the Environment Minister Elliott Morley July 19, to try to reach a swift resolution to the problem. Representatives from the British metals recycling industry hope that the discussion will solve the problems with the new landfill directive.

A statement from the British Metals Recycling Association said: “We are beginning to see knock on effects within our industry as shredder operators begin to close or turn away vehicles after landfill operators have refused to take shredder residue for landfill from today until the government clarifies the status of this residue.

“This problem arises because of conflicting legislation and an inappropriate testing regime for vehicle residues.”

European Metal Recycling recycles over 20,000 vehicles a week at its national network of 10 shredders and subsequent dense media separation plants.