Cannibalisation of vehicles is a useful source of spares, and
has spawned networks of breakers, some of whom
specialise by marque. They vary from oily backyard operations to
sophisticated, computerised disassembly plants. In general the
concept of comprehensive recycling is well-established.
Recent conversations with car breaking firms reveal that many have now closed down or diversified due to new regulations affecting the industry. Some companies now depollute vehicles by lifting them up with machines, in order to completely drain all fluids including oils, fuels, hydraulic / brake fluids, and water. The regulations also cover the permissability of dropping fluids on concrete slabs, and about removing engines inside buildings. The cost of new equipment needed to follow the regulations has been a main reason for the closure of many firms. But some have rejuvenated and widened their operations having managed to invest in this equipment, expanding the dismantling and recycling of metals, and even white goods. Of those that could not justify or afford the new machinery, some have stayed in business by moving solely into metals (and/or white goods).
Sub-sections 71-76 to this main heading list Car and Light Commercial Vehicle dismantlers on a county basis (click back to Contents to access them, or see the list below), except entries for North London which appear alphabetically below.
There are also separate listings for Motorcycles (77) and HGV dismantlers (78).
Guidance on safe recovery of petrol from end-of-life vehicles is available from the British Metals Recycling Association (see below).
Environmental Information Exchange (see www.brookes.ac.uk/eie/elv.htm and below) has useful general info on End of Life Vehicles.
71 Cars/light commercial - Beds
72 Cars/light commercial - Berks
73 Cars/light commercial - Bucks
74 Cars/light commercial - Essex
75 Cars/light commercial - Herts
76 Cars/light commercial - Oxon
77 Motorcycles
78 Heavy goods vehicles
Alphabetical list of organisations
Comprising:
National organisations
Car & Light Commercial dismantlers, N. London
1st Choice Spares
Tel 08707 800 674 (general enquiries)
Website www.1stchoice.co.uk/index.aspx
Globe House, 21 Curtis Road, NORWICH, Norfolk NR6 6RB
Website listing sources of car, motorcycle and van spare parts. Uses a network of hundreds of UK dismantlers / recycled parts suppliers. Using recycled spares should save between 50% to 80% off the cost of new spares. Make your vehicle last longer - don't buy a new one! Site includes Frequently Asked Questions. 24hr Automated Request Line (to find parts) 09065 508898 - note calls cost £1.00 per minute from a BT landline, so using the net may be preferable. Customer services line 07092 042042 for problems with dealers only. Membership info 07092 007009. (Updated Apr 2005)
Auto Salvage
Tel 0208 422 2900
62 Lower Road, HARROW, Middlesex HA2 0DH
Vehicle salvage - car and light commercials. (Updated August 2005)
AAA Autos
Tel 0208 422 2026
62 Lower Road, HARROW, Middlesex HA2 ODH
Car and van dismantler, including commercial vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, and motorcycles. Salvage buyers. (Updated August 2005)
Alperton and Wembley Car Breakers
Tel 0208 902 0890
R/O 122 Mount Pleasant, Alperton, WEMBLEY, Middlesex HA0 1UJ
Car and van dismantler. Salvage buyer.
BF Autos
Tel 01895 823217
The Breakers Yard, New Years Green Lane, HAREFIELD, Middlesex
Car and van dismantler. Salvage buyer.
British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA)
Tel 01480 455249 Fax 01480 453680
Website www.recyclemetals.org
Email info@recyclemetals.org
16 High Street, Brampton, HUNTINGDON, Cambs, PE28 4TU
Trade body aiming to provide key support services and a forum for
generating consensus on strategic issues. Guidance on legislation, health and
safety - runs training courses on, for example, the real needs of a recycling
operator, and environmental management systems. Various education
resources on recycling. Result of merger between British Secondary Metals
Association and the British Metals Federation. (Updated
Oct 2004)
D E Fisher
Tel 0208 202 4870
R/O Hendon Station, Station Road, LONDON NW4
Car, van, and caravan dismantler.
Top-Japs
Tel 0208 503 0880
43 Water Lane, Stratford, LONDON E15
Specialist Japanese car dismantlers and supplier of spare parts. (Updated August 2005)
Environmental Information Exchange
Tel contacts:
Michael Esvelt, Project Coordinator 01865 484066
Patsy Wood, Project Manager/Researcher 01865 484432
Anne Miller, Project Director 01865 483244
Fax 01865 483242
Website www.brookes.ac.uk/eie/elv.htm
BMS, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, OXFORD OX3 0BP
Initiative supported by Oxford Brookes University which promotes recycling and environmentally friendly waste management.
Useful info on website including - End of Life Vehicles Directive and
regulations; collection; treatment; destruction; funding; ELV
reuse/recovery/recycling targets; definitions of waste; minimising waste;
waste calculator - how to reduce waste and increase profit; energy and
water saving; pollution; how to create an environmental policy and
why you should; how to prepare travel plans. Legal information - see
section 500. (Updated Apr 2005)
Ford Escort Spares
Tel 0208 903 5950
R/O 122/124 Mount Pleasant, Alperton, WEMBLEY HA0 1UG
Specialist Ford Escort dismantler.
JS Salvage
Tel 0208 890 1260
Unit 34, Bedfont Road Trading Estate, FELTHAM, Middlesex TW14 8EF
Car and van dismantler. Salvage buyer.
K F Thompson
Tel 0208 804 7871
Thompsons Disposal Yard, Alexandra Road, ENFIELD EN3
Car and van dismantler. Scrap vehicles purchased.
Lea Bridge Car Breakers
Tel 0208 986 9837
Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, LONDON E5
Car and van dismantler. Salvage buyer.
Motor Industry Research Association
Tel 01203 348541 Fax 01203 355355
Watling Street, NUNEATON, Warwicks CV10 0TU
Research establishment concerned mainly with technical aspects of vehicle design, including recycling and reclamation of materials.
Motor Vehicle Dismantlers Association of Great Britain
Tel 01543 254254 Fax 01543 254274
Email mail@mvda.org.uk Website www.mvda.org.uk
33 Market Street, LICHFIELD, Staffordshire WS13 6LA
Trade association formed 1943, representing 200 vehicle dismantlers in UK and Ireland. Active in the cause of auto recycling at government level, and working to ensure any new legislation will be practical and effective. Works with users of recycled auto parts to ensure parts can be purchased from a reputable recycler, and with members to promote reuse through service and quality standards. Ensures members are registered with the Environment Agency and operate to their pollution control standards. Committed to continuous improvements in the environmental considerations of vehicle production and recycling, and has consulted with DEFRA on the end of life vehicle directive and measures to deal with abandoned vehicles. . (Updated Jan 2003)
Nationwide Recycling Environmental Services
Tel 01925 767666 Fax 01925 762999
Beech House, Hob Hey Lane, Culcheth, WARRINGTON, Cheshire WA3 4NJ
Complete waste management service, primarily for the motor trade. Provided through national network of licensed contractors covering all waste streams.
Re-Cycle
Tel/ Fax 01206 382207 60 High Street, WEST MERSEA, Essex CO5
8JE
Email: info@re-cycle.org Website www.re-cycle.org
Contact Merlin Matthews, founder/president
Charity 'taking old bikes to new places'. Will receive, but cannot
collect, unwanted bicycles (millions rust in garages), and ships them to five
African countries. Requests donation towards shipping with each
bike. Will also receive old tools and parts.
Working also with Greenwich Cycling Campaign, who will receive bikes from
July 2003. It sets up workshops with local partners to teach people how
to repair and maintain bikes. In South Africa, Re-Cycle has set up a
charity, Afribike, helping people save 1/4 of their income spent on transport.
In poor countries a 4-hour, 10 mile daily walk is common just for survival - to
fetch water, take goods to farm, factory or market, to get to school, or act as
game warden. Bikes can make lives much easier, so people are trained to
run workshops in local communities, teaching repair, maintenance and safe
riding. Many 'Cycleversity' graduates are women, who become empowering
role models for students. For a token fee people get a 2-day basic
mechanics course so they can keep and look after the bike they refurbish, which
then
lasts for years. South Africa has
1,000 bike pilot projects in 10 provinces, and plans 60 workshops and 1,000,000
bikes over the next ten years! See www.afribike.org.
Re~Cycle and Afribike make the 'extraBike', a simplekit device that
greatly increases a bike's load capacity to carry more people (up to two adults
and two children) or goods. This
makes it into a labour saving, job-creating tool suitable for tasks like
carrying food and
water, mobile vending and collecting recyclables. www.xtracycle.com
gives details of a more expensive version for the UK.
In the UK, Re~Cycle reduces the number of bikes landfilled. By encouraging
cycling, it cuts car pollution and congestion, and improves health. It generates
income worldwide and provides environmental benefit by sellingorganic, fairly
traded, recycled, reclaimed, rechargeable, long life, energy efficient, vegan,
affordable items, and cheap, good quality, services including land and mobile
phones, green electricity, gas and internet shopping. 'Earn a bike'
scheme, with community and youth groups, churches, schools, councils and
charities, provides a free bike to UK volunteers in return for 30 hours work for
Re-Cycle. This gives them skills in cycle maintenance, administration,
marketing, communication, time management, teamwork and relationships, as well
as self-worth. It aims to set up eight UK collection points for bikes.
Sources include Royal Mail (4500 a year), old stock donated by cycle shops and
manufacturers, police and lost property. UK partnerships include Tools for Self
Reliance (www.tfsr.org - see WasteBook section
85), experienced in shipping, and setting up workshops overseas; Riders for
Health (www.riders.org.uk ); and councils.
(Updated
Mar 2003)
S & K Autos
Tel 0208 807 4198
90 Eley Estate, Angel Road, LONDON, N18 3BH
Specialist VW, BMW and Mercedes dismantler.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
Tel 0207 235 7000 Fax 0207 235 7112
Forbes House, Halkin Street, LONDON SW1X 7DS
Run campaign promoting recycling of vehicles.