This article considers the European recycling directive which will require car manufacturers to pay for the scrapping of their vehicles, with retrospective provision for vehicles marketed before July 2002. Originally seen as an attack on the industry, and a possible cause of bankruptcy, its aim is to reduce the amount of waste and consequent environmental effects. The European vehicle manufacturers' association ACEA believes the retrospective provision may be illegal, but there has been no legal challenge. It may be possible to take national considerations into account in each separate country, as costs are seen to be different; and national governments are each responding differently to the directive. Other areas of concern relate to design restrictions including the targets for material re-use and recycling.
Abstract