Adam Małyszko, President of the board of the Association of Car Recycling Forum (FORS) in Poland provides the reasons for adopting a resolution on establishing a Car Recycling Day. And now the Polish vehicle recycling association are looking to join forces with the Global Automotive Recycling Association, having a Car Recycler’s Day only strengthens the unity of all those involved.
Car recycling is a process that has taken more than 100 years. The beginning of car recycling is a period in which there were no specific rules for car dismantling or environmental protection that had to be observed. For many years, vehicles were dismantled without any specific regulations and rules. The cars that were to be recycled most often went to scrap companies. Along with the development of the automotive industry, the need to legally regulate the rules of car recycling and to separate the car recycling process from the scrap recycling process was noticed.
In the US, this need was noticed in the 1940s, when the Second World War was taking place in Europe and nobody was thinking about issues such as car recycling rules. However, the regulations on dismantling adopted at the time had little impact on environmental protection. The real breakthrough in car recycling legislation came on September 18th 2000 when Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles was adopted, the world’s first comprehensive and detailed piece of legislation. The regulations contained in the Directive are a kind of Constitution for Recycling Vehicles. Although the provisions of the Directive are formally binding only within the territory of the Member States of the European Union, many countries outside the EU currently benefit from the provisions of the Directive.
Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Directive, which is why we believe that the 18th September is the accurate date to emphasise the importance of the car recycling industry and to set the 18th September as the Car Recycling Day. Another argument in favour of the proposed date is the fact that this day is one of the days of the European Week for Sustainable Transport, the celebration of which ends on 22nd September with International Car Free Day. The following holidays are also celebrated this week: the International Ozone Layer Protection Day, the International Geologist’s Day and the World Cleaning Action.
In Poland, as well as in many other countries, the recycling industry is struggling on a daily basis with many problems, including competition from the grey market, lack of appropriate legal regulations, the constant need to improve qualifications, difficult cooperation with manufacturers, insurers or processors of waste resulting from the disassembly of vehicles. For these reasons, it is important for the industry to have its own day to celebrate what has been achieved despite the difficulties; a day on which the importance of the industry can be emphasised; a day on which we forget about the current problems.
The importance of car recycling is very important. Millions of cars are millions of tonnes of hazardous waste, which on the one hand can pollute the air, soil and water, but on the other hand, if used properly, are raw materials and parts that save energy and leave the money saved in the wallets of the customers who use them. Vehicle recycling also fits perfectly into the closed-loop economy system.
Car recyclers deserve promotion of their work, appreciation of the effort they put into adapting their stations to new needs – both resulting from changes in law and market trends.
The Board of the FORS Association adopted a resolution on establishing a Car Recycling Day.
- The date of 18th September shall be set as the date of the Car Recycler’s Day
- The Car Recycler’s Day may also be accepted and celebrated as: International Car Recycler’s Day, European Car Recycling Day, World Car Recycler’s Day.
- The Board will apply to international, European and world organisations to take the appropriate resolution to establish 18th September as the Car Recycler Day and will undertake actions aimed at popularising this initiative.
- Every year, Car Recyclers will be informed about the celebrations of Car Recycler’s Day organised by FORS Association.
- During the Car Recycling Day, the actions indicated below will be organised: seminars, conferences, integration events, press conferences, promotion of the use of used parts, promotion of the idea of a closed circuit, information and education programmes and other events promoting the business.
- The Resolution shall come into force on September 18th 2019.
Adam Małyszko has been President of the board of the Association of Car Recycling Forum (FORS) for over a decade. He is an expert in the field of vehicle recycling. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Scrap Economy as well as the Polish Scientific Recycling Association (PSNR). He has initiated many practical and legislative resolutions in the area of car recycling and other waste and he has created ARES – Ambit Recycling System in Poland.
To find out more about FORS visit www.fors.pl
