WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Disposal of used catalytic converters in Greece
Date: 1998-01-29
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Greece, anti-pollution device, motor car, motor vehicle pollution, waste disposal, waste management, waste recycling

C 223/78

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 7. 98

(98/C 223/96)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0002/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 January 1998)

Subject: Disposal of used catalytic converters in Greece

Recent studies in Greece show that (a) new pollutants are being detected in the air for the first time (benzol,
toluene, xylene) caused by old catalytic converters that are not being replaced by newer models and (b) while
1  100  000  cars  using  new  technology  are  in  circulation  in  Greece,  some  150  000  of  these  should  have  their
catalytic converters replaced. The Association of Motor Mechanics states that a minimal number of replaced
converters are sent to France and Germany for recycling despite the existence of a two-year-old agreement with a
private firm.

Given  that  there  is  a  great  need  to  do  something  about  hazardous  catalytic  converters,  can  the  Commission
outline the system for disposing of used converters in Greece (are they buried, exported? In what numbers?).

As long ago as 1994 (Question E-2394/94) (1), the Commission said that it would propose measures to harmonize
the final disposal and recovery of disused vehicles and catalytic converters. What are these proposals?

(1)  OJ C 75, 27.3.1995, p. 41.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 1998)

As announced in its answers to written questions E-2394/94 and E-3319/97, the Commission has made a proposal
for the harmonization of measures on end of life vehicles (1) including catalytic converters.

The proposal for a directive on end of life vehicles adopted by the Commission on 9 July 1997, establishes that
end of life vehicles shall be stripped and safely stored (by the removal of tyres as well as all fluids, batteries, air
conditioning  systems,  air-bags,  catalysts  and  other  hazardous  components  and  materials)  before  any  further
treatment. Such operations shall be carried out in such a way as to ensure the suitability of vehicle components
for re-use and recovery, in particular for recycling (Article 6 of the proposal).

The proposal would establish quantified targets for the re-use, recycling and recovery of end of life vehicles
(Article 7 of the proposal). By virtue of these targets, the re-use, recycling and recovery rate has to reach at least
85% by weight per vehicle by 2005 and 95% by 2015. Specific targets for the material recycling of end of life
vehicles are also part of the proposal (80% by 2005 and 85% by 2015). Although the proposal would not impose a
specific  obligation  to  recycle  catalytic  converters,  the  Commission  believes  that  the  achievement  of  the
quantified targets will require in practice that such components are recycled.

A study carried out for the Commission in 1997 shows that, in Europe, the number of catalysts recycled depends
on the incentive to collect them, on the prices of precious metals as well as on the proportion of scrapped cars
equipped  with  catalysts.  Since  this  proportion  is  bound  to  increase  (increasing  the  volume  of  the  recycling
business) and in light of the stripping requirements of the proposal, the Commission considers that the recycling
of  catalysts  will  increase.  According  to  the  above  mentioned  study,  there  seem  not  to  be  any  problems  of
recycling capacity for such components.

The Commission does not have information concerning the present situation relating to the treatment of catalytic
converters in Greece.

(1)  OJ C 337, 7.11.1997.