Moves to boost recycling of car parts across the EU have reached another milestone.
The European Parliament’s Environment and Internal Market committees adopted proposals on rules relating to the recyclability and recycled content of vehicles.
It comes after the European Council last month published a position statement on the laws.
The Parliamentary committees said the end-of-life vehicle regulations should apply to most cars and vans within 12 months of coming into force, with various other modes of motor transport following four years later, and some exemptions being allowed.
MEPs said in-scope vehicles should be designed to allow easy removal of as many parts and components as possible by authorised treatment facilities, with a view to their replacement, reuse, recycling, remanufacturing or refurbishing where technically possible.
They said the plastic used in each new vehicle should contain at least 20 per cent recycled material within six years of the rules coming into force, rising to 25 per cent after a decade.
The European Council last month said the quota after six years should be just 15 per cent, prompting industry body EuRIC to lash out at “a step backwards” that could “undermine investor confidence”.
Co-rapporteurs Jens Gieseke and Paulius Saudargas said in a statement that the Parliament’s “compromise… promotes a circular economy in the automotive sector”.