FOUR frequently asked questions, FOUR clear answers
What were the movers and shakers in the recycling sector in 2021?
For the car-recycling sector, 2021 was a dynamic year. It was decreed, for example, that from now on a recycling fee will be levied on all cars registered in the Netherlands. What’s. more, research was carried out into the feasibility of dismantling glass and ARN paved the way for the transferral of drainage installations. Furthermore, since last year the quality requirement for the collection of automotive tyres is actually being complied with and, with the improvement of its services in mind, ARN is harvesting and using more and more data. Here we answer the five questions most-frequently asked about these much-talked-about topics.
To make sure that the playing field is as level as possible, we impose the same quality requirement on all affiliated car-dismantling companies
Martijn Boelhouwer
Spokesman ARN
1. Why is ARN transferring the drainage installations to the market?
“ARN loaned these drainage installations, free-of-charge, to affiliated car-dismantling companies over 15 years ago,” responds ARN project leader Kilian Berghauser Pont. “And this year ARN will formally transfer the drainage installations to their users, having first-of-all ensured that the installations function properly and that their storage tanks are inspected.” This will make sure that the installations are sound and can be regarded as BAT (Best Available Technology). “Provided they are properly maintained, we expect the drainage installations to give at least another 15 years’ service. ARN contractors will be given a one-off sum for future maintenance and service.”
The transferral of these drainage installations means that owners of car-dismantling companies will be better placed to respond to market developments. “In this way we are stimulating innovation in the area of drainage.” It is a perfect fit with a course set out as early as 2018, whereby ARN organises and facilitates while companies in the chain innovate and act as entrepreneurs.
2. Why does ARN impose a quality requirement for the collection of tyres?
“At ARN we are responsible for the collection of used tyres from end-of-life vehicles in the Netherlands,” says spokesman Martijn Boelhouwer. “To make sure that the playing field is as level as possible, we impose the same quality requirement on all affiliated car-dismantling companies, namely a maximum of 80 per cent scrap and 20 per cent tyres. This quality requirement plays a key role in ensuring that the costs of collection and recycling are kept manageable and that the recycling fee is not being spent improperly. It enables us to prevent tyres that shouldn’t be there from ending up in the ARN container, such as tyres from vehicles other than cars and from foreign end-of-life vehicles. Data harvested in 2021 shows that the tyres returned by most companies met the requirement. On average, there might even have been an improvement in quality.”
3. Were there more fires in the car-recycling sector last year?
“Unfortunately, there were a few fires last year, at car-dismantling companies and intermediaries as well as at shredder companies,” says Rob van der Linden of ARN. “Here at ARN, we closely monitor developments pertaining to fires. There was a slight increase in the number of fires compared with previous years. However, statistically speaking, the increase is negligible and we cannot yet draw firm conclusions from it. Furthermore, we often don’t know what caused the fires and/or whether a fire started during the processing of end-of-life vehicles. People are often quick to conclude that ‘it must have been a battery’, but that’s probably being a bit too simplistic. However, small as it is, the increase is seen as a worrying development so we asked an independent party to investigate. As soon as any results are available, we’ll take a look at potential recommendations for the sector. We will, of course, keep you informed as soon as we can. Effective and safe car dismantling have always been a priority for ARN, so fires within the sector are always given our full attention.”
Unfortunately, there were a few fires last year, both at car dismantling companies and brokers and shredder companies. At ARN, we closely follow developments in the field of fires
Rob van der Linden
Projectmanager ARN
4. Why is ARN collecting more and more data?
“Every year, we harvest a great deal of data about the car-recycling chain in the Netherlands,” says ARN’s Marco van de Goor. “To improve the ways we reconcile and unlock this data, in 2021 we started developing an online dashboard. Thanks to this dashboard, we will soon be able to get better and faster intermediate insight into the realised recycling performance. It will also give us better insight into the performance of our chain partners, thereby making it possible for ARN to identify certain developments in the chain earlier, and to act accordingly.” The data will be used by ARN and shared with partners, during periodic evaluation discussions, for example. In addition to processing ORAD (Online Registration Auto Dismantling) messages, such as numbers of recycled end-of-life vehicles and various waste streams, such as oil, tyres and windscreen-wiper detergent, Van de Goor stresses that the dashboard will also process data on the collection and recycling of EV batteries. He expects that the dashboard, along with its available data, can be used from the second half of 2022.
Sustainable Development Goals
For the fourth year, ARN is benchmarking itself against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the motto ‘lean and green’ in mind. The coloured SDGs shown on the right apply specifically to the content of this page.