Founded 1991
Who we are
EGARA was founded in 1991 and is the European association for national associations of automotive recyclers in Europe. EGARA represents the independent, professional, environmentally conscious dismantlers in Europe.
Our mission is:
- to ensure that a circular economy is a foundation in automotive recycling
- to stimulate and facilitate the increase of reuse of quality spare parts and material from dismantled cars
- to stimulate environmentally improvements for automotive recycling
Our philosophy is based on the following mission statement:
“Our primary business is to ensure that our work is in the best interest of a circular economy. To obtain this, we must sell used quality spare parts from dismantled cars for reuse and recover material from the dismantled cars (both ELVs and damaged cars). Furthermore, in the dismantling process, we ensure that the environment is protected from hazardous substances present in the vehicle and follow strict rules of operation required to ensure environmental safety.”
Egara members consist of national associations in 14 European countries.
Look who we are :
Click on:
What we do
As a European Trade Association we, of course, work together with relevant European organisations.
During the development of the EU-directive on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs), EGARA has provided input to the directive, both at the Commission level and at Parliament level, as well as having discussions and meetings with other European Trade Associations in the Automotive sector, e.g. car-producers, producers of components and parts, recycling industries etc.
EGARA is present at many stakeholder meetings like: reporting methodologies, public consultancies, reviews, ELV Directive fitness check and more. We have good contacts with the EC, ACEA and other European stakeholders. Topics like missing vehicles, registration systems, VAT on spare parts, waste status, industry status in legislation are easy to discuss with good outcomes for us. Another topic is parts information.
Therefore EGARA is the only European association truly representing Automotive Recyclers.
If you wish to read more about EGARA as an association:
Click on: EGARA Association Position Paper
If you wish to see some of our European position papers:
Click on:
How we work
EGARA works with and through the National Associations. These are represented on the EGARA-board, where policy matters and ideas for stimulation of the sector are discussed.
We hold two annual meeting in the Board of EGARA, and between these dates,
the matters of interest to us are taken care of by our Executive Committee.
Click on: EGARA Committee to see the members of our Executive Committee are
Environment conscious treatment – of course!
All Automotive Recyclers within EGARA naturally pay full respect to the environment when they receive and treat ELVs – completely in line with the European Commission’s rules, as they are set out in the ELV-directive (2000/53/EC) – and in some cases, the National Associations have even more strict rules. Of course – since this is part of our philosophy!
And what is even better for you:
Components and spare parts, which are fitted for re-use – the most environment friendly way of recycling – are dismantled, tested and controlled, classified and registered into our comprehensive computer systems. And of course, when we sell them you have guarantees according to National rules.
Step 1: Depollution
In the first step of the treatment, we depollute the vechicle. The ELV is drained of all environmentally hazardous fluids, such as oil, break-fluid, coolant, petrol etc., and the fluids are stored in appropriate containers, which then is sent to authorised companies for optimal recycling. Not a drop goes into nature!
Step 2: Removal of other hazardous components
In this step, all other components that are hazardous are removed, such as batteries, components containing mercury, electronics etc. are removed. Further, other components like glass and plastic elements, tyres, catalytic converters are removed, and as above are stored appropriately and handed over for recycling.
Step 3: Components for re-use
Components and parts which are suitable for re-use, with due respect to traffic security and eventual environmental hazards – what we in our terminology refer to as . “Safe Re-Use” – are then carefully dismantled. After this the “carcass” of the vehicle is then sent on to shredders for further materials recycling, e.g. metal-recycling.
Step 4: Testing and storing
Components which are dismantled for re-use, are the carefully controlled and tested, assigned classification codes and appropriate information about into which car, model and the type it fits. All this information is then entered into our modern computer systems – systems that allow us, when you as a customer require a part or a component, to sell you “the right part for the right car” – also a facet of “Safe Re-use”. Hence, Automotive Recyclers no longer run looking for what they have – they simply look into their computer systems, enabling them to give you a direct answer about whether or not a component is available.
Step 5: Re-use
Therefore, why buying a new part for a used car, when you can get a component for re-use, which matches the car you have exactly and which is “the right part for the right car” , labelled, classified and marked – at a cheaper price – and with appropriate guarantee?? This is the better choice – for the environment and for your pocket!