End-of-life vehicle recycling in the European Union

Vehicles, essential to society, are continually increasing in use. However; throughout their life cycle vehicles impact the environment in several ways: energy and resource consumption, waste generation during manufacturing and use, and disposal at the end oj' their useful lives. About 75 percent of end of-life vehicles, mainly metals, are recyclable in the European Union. The rest (similar to25%) of the vehicle is considered waste and generally goes to landfills. Environmental legislation of the European Union requires the reduction of this waste to a maximum of 5 percent by 2015.