Australia all alone when it comes to End of Life Vehicle policy

31 August 2018

Australia is the only developed country not to have a national policy dealing with End of Life Vehicles (ELVs), which leaves the system vulnerable to rogue traders and environmental breaches, says the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC). 

VACC calls on the next Victorian State Government to do something about it.

The emergence of ‘illegal wreckers’ operating outside the current regulatory guidelines is causing serious problems, believes VACC Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Gwilym. 

“Issues with illegal operators include tax evasion and non-compliance with Australian Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Protection laws. Rogue traders also provide components to the black market, supporting the cash economy, and underground and illegal industries,” said Mr Gwilym.

Landfill is also a serious concern. 

The variation of quality, quantity and consistency of plastics, along with the extent to which plastic is distributed throughout the vehicle, all make it difficult to determine what is worth recycling. The recycling process is costly, and plastic is in direct competition with other, more valuable materials, such as steel and aluminium. As a result, the majority of plastic is disposed of via landfill, which is a major environmental concern. 

“With approximately 90kg of plastic in a small car, if only half of this content is recycled, an estimated 63,000 tonnes of plastic would be committed to landfill in Victoria every year from ELVs alone,”
said Mr Gwilym. 

“If countries such as Germany, South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom and Norway can institute regulated ELV policies, why can’t we? 

“These countries acknowledge that a sound ELV strategy is essential to good environmental and economic governance. Such systems also contribute to meeting environmental obligations under international law,” added Mr Gwilym.  

Recognising the environmental and economic concerns related to the disposal of ELVs, VACC recommends that both state and federal governments take this issue seriously and work towards a nationally implemented ELV plan, with the next Victorian State Government taking a leadership role by trialling a self-regulated ELV program.  

Download VACC’s complete election manifesto Better Business. Better Victoria.