How Vehicle Scrapping Facilities Handle Hazardous Materials

How Vehicle Scrapping Facilities Handle Hazardous Materials

End-of-life vehicle (ELV) management is a major concern for India, as it is for many other quickly developing nations. When these outdated cars are not disposed of appropriately, they lead to bottlenecks in the automobile sector, safety issues, and environmental deterioration. These problems are intended to be addressed by the Indian government’s 2021 Vehicle Scrapping Policy, however its efficacy is still being examined. A Registered vehicle scrapping facility has a major responsibility of disposing off hazardous materials of the scrapped cars and we will discuss how they handle such hazardous materials in this article.

Environmental risks of ageing vehicles

There are several safety and environmental risks associated with old cars. Because of their old engines and worn-out parts, they release more toxins into the atmosphere, adding to the already serious problem of urban air pollution in many Indian cities. These cars are dangerous on the road since they are also more likely to have technical issues. In addition to increasing traffic congestion and road inefficiencies, frequent breakdowns also result in accidents.

Economically speaking, older cars make it harder to sell newer, more effective models. The continued usage of outdated vehicles has a major influence on the Indian automobile industry which accounts for approximately 49% of the country’s production-related revenue. Scrapping old cars becomes crucial to ensuring both economic expansion and the preservation of the environment. 

Problems with unauthorised scrapping sector

Informal scrapping centers continue to be a major barrier to the policy’s implementation in spite of the government’s efforts. Vehicle owners are drawn to these illegal scrapping centres because they provide larger cash payments while ignoring official rules, taxes, and paperwork. Unfortunately, these facilities frequently flout environmental regulations, which results in dangerous activities like burning or openly disposing of hazardous waste. This seriously damages the environment, poses health hazards, and progressively erodes government efforts to control car disposal.

How to deal with illegal scrapping?

Stricter enforcement of laws is one of the best strategies to stop unauthorized scrapping. Illegal operations should be discouraged by enforcing strict penalties, seizing equipment from unapproved establishments, and carrying out regular inspections and raids. Furthermore, surveillance techniques like CCTV monitoring and GPS tracking can be used to find non-compliant establishments.

The balance may be shifted away from the unorganized sector if financial incentives are strengthened for car owners to use approved scrapping facilities. In order to assist informal scrapping centers in upgrading and meeting regulatory standards, subsidies, tax incentives, or low-interest loans may also be provided. Providing convenient car pick-up services and growing the network of approved facilities would promote compliance even further.

It is essential to inform the people about the dangers illegal scrapping poses to the environment and human health. Consumer behavior can be altered by emphasizing the long-term advantages of formal scrapping, such as cash savings and the guarantee of safer disposal techniques.

How do authorised scrapping facilities handle hazardous materials?

The establishment of government-approved scrapping facilities is a key element of the Vehicle Scrapping Policy. The purpose of these facilities is to guarantee that cars get scrapped in an eco-friendly way. In addition to making sure that dangerous materials like batteries and coolants are delivered to specialized recycling facilities, they disassemble automobiles, sorting components like metals, plastics, and glass for recycling. Discounts on new car purchases, eliminated registration costs, and occasionally reduced road tax are offered to car owners who utilize these services.

This structured scrapping procedure is essential for reducing harmful emissions and encouraging recycling. However, the automobile industry’s and car owners’ compliance is crucial to the initiative’s success which must be followed by both the parties.

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