If you operate a business working with end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) you must meet requirements for storing and dismantling ELVs at your site.

What you must do

Comply with a waste management licence

You must have a waste management licence and comply with its conditions if you dismantle or store waste motor vehicles on your site that have not been depolluted.

Vehicles have been depolluted when they have been treated to the approved standard to remove fluids and other hazardous substances or components.

Comply with storage and treatment standards

If you store and treat ELVs, you must meet environmental standards to be classed as an authorised treatment facility (ATF). These standards include:

• storing and treating ELVs so they do not harm the environment
• removing all hazardous liquids and components (depolluting)
• recycling, storing and disposing of the parts appropriately.

SEPA: Guidance on the standards for storage and treatment of ELVs

Competent operator schemes

If you operate an ATF you will need to demonstrate your technical competence and comply with an approved scheme.

NetRegs: How to apply for a waste management licence

Follow hazardous waste controls

ELVs that have not been depolluted and some component parts, for example batteries, oil filters and waste engine oil, are hazardous waste. You must:

• use consignment notes to accompany your hazardous waste, and keep a copy of these for three years
• keep copies of 'return to producer' forms for three years (these are records of what has happened to your waste)
• notify your environmental regulator at least three days before the waste is moved.

Hazardous/special waste

Register waste exemptions

You must register an exemption from waste management licensing for certain activities.

If you dismantle or store waste motor vehicles that have been depolluted you may need a paragraph 45 exemption.

NIEA: Paragraph 45 waste exemption

SEPA: Waste management licensing exemptions

If you have an exemption from waste management licensing you must comply with the exemption conditions.

Further information

For more information on how to apply for a waste management licence or register an exemption, read the waste management licences guidance on the NetRegs website.

Waste management licences

SEPA: Standards for the storage and treatment of end-of-life vehicles

SEPA: Waste management licensing exemptions

NIEA: Paragraph 45 exemption for the dismantling of depolluted end-of-life vehicles

Good practice

You can use a generic toolkit for all businesses that will help you comply with your waste management licence and manage your environmental performance.

NIEA: Management toolkit for Northern Ireland

SEPA: Management toolkit for Scotland

In this Guideline

What is an end-of-life vehicle?

Vehicle manufacturers - Your end-of-life vehicle responsibilities

Vehicle owners and operators - What you must do with end-of-life vehicles

Sites that accept waste vehicles

End-of-life vehicles environmental legislation