Editorial note

Directive 2000/53 of 18 September 2000 lays down measures to prevent waste from vehicles, as a first priority, and in addition measures to re-use, recycle and recover in other forms end-of-life vehicles (Article 1). The Directive covers vehicles and end-of-life vehicles, including their components and materials (Article 3). Member States are required to promote the prevention of waste by encouraging, inter alia, vehicle manufacturers to limit the use of hazardous substances in vehicles, and to design and produce new vehicles which take into account and facilitate their dismantling, re-use and recovery (Article 4). Member States must ensure that economic operators set up systems for the collection of end-of-life vehicles and that collection facilities are adequately available in their territory (Article 5). All end-of-life vehicles must be stored and treated in accordance with Directive 75/442 (framework waste directive) and in compliance with the minimum technical requirements of its Annex I (Article 6(1)). Establishments carrying out the treatment operations must obtain a permit or be registered, with some exceptions (Article 6(2)). Member States are required to take the necessary measures to encourage the re-use of components which are suitable for re-use, the recovery of components which cannot be re-used and the giving of preference to recycling when environmentally viable. For this purpose, specific targets are set by the Directive (Article 7). Component and coding standards are to be used by producers, in concert with material and equipment manufacturers, to facilitate the identification of those components and materials which are suitable for re-use and recovery (Article 8).