High metal prices fuel 72% drop in dumped vehicles

Tag : Non-ferrous Metal
A survey undertaken by the association discovered that, while in2003, an average of 800 vehicles had to be cleared up by Englishlocal authorities, by 2007, this had dropped to 225.
And, the chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA)Environment board, councillor Paul Bettison, highlighted the partthat high metal prices had played in contributing to the decrease.
"A triple whammy of cracking down on would-be dumpers, quickerclearing up by councils and soaring metal prices are helping to winthe battle against unsightly old bangers being left on ourstreets," he said.
He added: "A few years ago, you'd have had to pay someone totake your old car away, but now, scrap metal dealers will pay youup to £1,000 for the pleasure."
Particularly large decreases in abandoned vehicles were reported byBlaby district council in Leicestershire, which saw a 99% drop inthe number dumped cars reported to the council between 2003 and2007, and South Buckinghamshire, which recorded a 97% fall.
And, the East Midlands saw the largest regional decrease in dumpedvehicles reported, falling by 84% over the same four-year period.
Metals prices have increased steadily over the past few years, withperhaps the most significant increases for both ferrous andnon-ferrous metals coming earlier this year.
Market figures show that, between March and May 2008, prices formany ferrous metals almost doubled, and while non-ferrous priceshave increased less dramatically this year, they are still athistorically high levels.
The report over the decrease in the number of ELVs on the streetscomes four months after Hampshire-based Silverlake Garage Ltdreported that it expected to collect less than 2,000 abandoned carsa year under a contract with Hampshire county council because ofthe increasing price of metal (see letsrecycle.com story) .
Cars represent a particularly good source of recyclable metals,with BERR data showing that the current recoverable metal contentof typical complete end-of-life vehicle (ELV) in the UK is 75%,made up for 69% ferrous and 6% non-ferrous metals.
And, there are currently as many as 1,300 car dismantlers licensedas authorised treatment facilities (ATFs) to help the UK meet itsvehicle reuse, recycling and recovery targets under the EU ELVDirective by ensuring vehicles are correctly depolluted andrecycled. Drain cover
The high price of recyclable metals has been further illustrated bya spate of drain cover thefts in recent months.
The LGA has detailed a host of local authorities that have been hitby the thefts recently, with councils forced to pay £300 percover to replace the stolen drains with ductile steel covers, whichhave no scrap value.
Regions to be particularly badly hit by the thefts include Surrey,where 268 drain covers have been stolen since April 2008, andAccrington in Lancashire, where 20 drain covers were stolen in onenight.
Commenting on the thefts, Cllr Bettison said: "With theever-rising price of scrap metal continuing to soar, thieves areincreasing their raids on drain covers.