Over 1.4 billion cars are on our roads world-wide. While vehicle manufacturers are working hard to make new cars more sustainable and environmentally friendly, effective recycling of vehicles is essential to enable sustainable circular economies within the industry, and to protect our environment right now.

The second annual Global Car Recycling Day is being held on 20th June 2024. While there is no physical rally (although it does coincide with the International Automotive Recycling Conference in Brussels, which supports the initiative), it has never been more vital to take action and raise  awareness of the importance of responsible vehicle recycling.

This statement is being published to convey the united commitment and urgency that each participating organisation has to maintain the world's most popular form of travel, through sustainable car production, while protecting our environment. 

We’re asking the public, as well as the car industry, world-wide, to get behind this campaign.

“Our organisations are all involved in different stages of a car’s life – from conception to end-of-life vehicle recycling - and have very different operations and priorities. But we are all aligned in our belief that the future of the entire car industry can only be successful and sustainable, with effective and responsible car recycling taking place across the globe.

"Outside of the countries that have strict environmental regulations, at the end of a vehicle’s life, the right choices are not always clear or indeed available to the public. It’s going to take everyone, from public demand, car industry innovation and investment, to support
from governments, to drive the improvement of car recycling regulations. 

"We are supporting Global Car Recycling Day, hoping to spread awareness, so the public makes, and has the option to make, an environmentally responsible choice when their vehicle gets to the end of its life, wherever they are in the world.”

As the Global Car Recycling Day initiative has made clear, while domestic recycling is thankfully second nature in most economically developed nations, many members of the public are still unaware that cars can be effectively recycled. There are also countries, where for many reasons there is either insufficient infrastructure and/or a lack of regulations to ensure car recycling is carried out safely and effectively.

Every organisation here is looking forward to raising awareness through Global Car Recycling Day and working with individuals, organisations and authorities, worldwide, to maximise its effect.

Use #GlobalCarRecyclingDay on June 20th to share the campaign, show your support and start the conversation.

All the organisations issuing this press release are behind the joint statement made within it. Read each ones supporting statement below. 

“As the voice of the UK metals recycling industry, and with many ATF’s and vehicle recyclers in membership, BMRA is delighted to support Global Car Recycling Day and its goal to improve regulations and increase awareness of responsible car recycling. It is essential that, as an industry, we continue to strive to implement the most efficient ways to recycle cars and raise awareness of the depollution of electric cars as more reach end-of-life. Recycling cars helps to conserve precious natural resources and will be key in the drive to net-zero, not just in the UK, but across the globe.”

James Kelly - BMRA CEO

“The BVSF is in full support of Global Car Recycling Day. Our work to enforce Rules and Regulations within the vehicle salvage industry helps to raise the status and standing of our members and assists in regulating the vehicle salvage market for the benefit for all who use its services. That key  objective of our Federation is perfectly aligned with Global Car Recycling Day's goals - to see improved car recycling across the world, for the benefit of the industry as a whole as well as the clear need to protect our environment. The BVSF works closely with Insurers, Government, European Commission and Police and we know that progression of a sustainable car industry can only be achieved through clear regulations. We would encourage any similar organisations across the globe to show their support to this important campaign.”

Graham West - BVSF

“CarTakeBack has established responsible car recycling networks across the globe and has experienced first-hand the difference in environmental standards and expectations. Outside of the countries that have strict environmental regulations, at the end of a vehicle’s life, the right choices are not always clear or indeed available to the public. It’s going to take us all working together to drive the improvement of car recycling regulations across the world and safeguard the future of sustainable car manufacture. Supporting Global Car Recycling Day is how we can help spread the word and support our partners in every area of the industry.”

Ken Byng – CarTakeBack

“As the global leader in vehicle remarketing and recycling, selling over three million cars worldwide every year, we hold a strong affinity with Global Car Recycling Day. As a direct result of our core business, Copart is a major contributor to the circular economy, enabling the reuse and recycling of vehicles of millions of vehicles a year. Our organisation is passionate about its mission: to build long-term value while operating our fundamentally green business in a responsible manner. We know it is essential that cars at the end of their life are managed appropriately and we enable, at scale and across the globe, vehicles to be recycled.”

Jane Pocock – CEO, Copart UK & Ireland

“Clearway Metal Recycling is Ireland’s largest scrap metal exporter. Established in the 60’s Clearway is proud to operate industry leading car recycling centres – all fully licensed and Approved Treatment Facility’s, which ensure cars are depolluted and recycled to 95%. We are in total support of Global Car Recycling Day, which is positive affirmation for a service we are already providing, while constantly raising our own standards. The initiative can only be a plus for the automotive industry and the environment as a push for other countries to meet the same high standards we already work to in the EU.”

Joe Monaghan - Clearway

"With operations throughout Europe and the United States, Ecobat is a leader in the collection, recycling, production and distribution of energy storage solutions. Ecobat plays an essential role in the closed-loop supply chain with 11 smelting facilities, three lithium-focused facilities, a collection truck fleet, and 65,000 battery collection points to provide a vital service to the car recycling industry. With a commitment to sustainability, we're ready to partner with other Global Car Recycling Day advocates to serve countries where car recycling standards will hopefully rise as a result of this movement."

Justin Sewell - Ecobat European Operations Director

"Renault Group is a renowned international company propelled by a passion to provide sustainable mobility to all. It is that sustainability and innovation that aligns us with Global Car Recycling Day. Long-term success in the car industry will be achieved through circular economies – re-using materials in the production of new cars – which Renault already does. True circular economies are not possible without effective, responsible car recycling, so this vital campaign is key to sustainable car production into the future.”

Rob Cripps - Renault

“The Green Parts Specialists are the UK’s leading supplier of green parts to the repair industry, providing provenanced parts as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to professional vehicle repairers. With a business model designed to enable a circular economy and operating to the strictest standards, we are full supporters of Global Car Recycling Day. It's essential to drive awareness of the importance of responsible and sustainable car recycling methods, which we are proud to be part of here in the UK."

Ian Hill – Managing Director, The Green Parts Specialist

"VRA has been the UK Trade Association for vehicle recyclers since 1943. This experience of the industry puts us in a unique position to understand the importance of car recycling regulations and the infrastructure and support that needs to be in place for those companies striving to provide a professional service. We are in total support of Global Car Recycling Day and as we represent the interests of our members to the UK Government and other industry sectors, we hope to see other countries' trade associations take part in this world-wide initiative and help drive responsible recycling globally."

Chas Ambrose - VRA