Regulatory Decision 026: Retaining parts on end of life vehicles for reuse

This Regulatory Decision (RD) is valid until 31 December 2025 by which time it will be reviewed. You should check back at that time to ensure the RD is still valid.

NRW can withdraw or amend this RD before the review date if we consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RD relates to has not changed.

Regulatory Decision

Underpolluted end of life vehicles (ELVs) must be stored and depolluted on an impermeable surface with sealed drainage. After depollution they may be stored on hardstanding before they’re shredded and crushed.

If you comply with the conditions in this RD, you can store intact shock absorbers and undeployed airbags in otherwise fully depolluted ELVs on hardstanding until they are removed as second hand parts.

This RD does not apply to any other activity, even if it is under the same legislation. You may still need other permits or licences for other activities you carry out.

This RD only applies:

• to ELVs accepted under and in accordance with an environmental permit
• where the ELV is being stored until the shock absorbers or airbags can be reused
• if the shock absorbers have not been damaged, are not leaking oil and are suitable to be reused
• if the airbags have not been damaged or deployed and are suitable to be reused · to an ELV which is fully depolluted in accordance with ‘Depolluting end-of-life vehicles: guidance for treatment facilities’, except for the shock absorbers or airbags (or both)

Fully depolluted means:

• batteries and liquefied gas tanks are removed
• potential explosive components are removed or neutralised
• you remove, collect and store: fuel, motor oil, transmission oil, gearbox oil, hydraulic oil, cooling liquids, antifreeze, brake fluids, air conditioning system fluids and gases and any other fluid in the ELV, unless necessary for the re-use of parts
• all components containing mercury are removed, where possible
  
  

Conditions you must comply with 

You must not:

• send ELVs for crushing and shredding unless they’ve been fully depolluted
• damage or prevent the reuse of airbags or shock absorbers

You must:

• only store ELVs on hardstanding that have been fully depolluted, except for intact shock absorbers or undeployed air bags (or both)
• comply with all the other conditions in your environmental permit
• keep records for 2 years that show you have complied with this RD – you must make these records available to NRW on request
  
  

Enforcement

This RD does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when you are retaining parts on end-of-life vehicles for reuse.

However, NRW will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with the need for an environmental permit if you meet the requirements in this RD.

In addition your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

• cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
• cause a nuisance through noise or odours
• adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest