A coalition of stakeholders, including representatives from the waste management and recycling industries, automotive suppliers, and environmental NGOs, are calling on EU lawmakers to expedite the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (ELVR).
The draft regulation was introduced in July 2023. It aims to replace existing directives and strengthen rules for vehicle design, recycling, and end-of-life treatment. Key provisions include a 25% recycled plastic content target for new vehicles placed on the market.
The signatories, including EuRIC and the European Environmental Bureau, support the inclusion of this target, and insist waste must be sourced primarily from post-consumer plastic instead of post-industrial waste. They claim that well-performing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are already able to achieve these quotas.
The associations are urging lawmakers to accelerate the implementation of the recycled plastic content targets in order to ‘reverse’ the situation facing the European plastics recycling industry.
“Despite recent progress, demand for recycled plastic remains weak due to current low virgin plastic prices and rising imports,” the joint call reads. “To reverse this situation, drive immediate investments and expand recycling capacity, we call for setting recycled content targets to take effect within 48 months of the regulation’s entry into force. This can be achieved in two ways: by bringing forward the 25% recycled content obligation, or by setting intermediate targets at 48 months while keeping the 25% requirement at 72 months after the regulation’s entry into force.”
The next step in the ELVR negotiations involves discussions between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to refine and approve the proposal. This process includes deliberations on amendments, stakeholder consultations, and technical reviews to align the regulation with the EU's goals for circularity, sustainability, and economic efficiency in the automotive sector. The timeline for final adoption will depend on the progress of these discussions.
Stakeholders are calling for swift legislative action to provide certainty and support for manufacturers and recyclers alike. They warn against lowering targets or introducing revision clauses that could jeopardize investments.