Shredder measuring campaigns

Legislation
In the End-of-life Vehicle Directive, quotas have been laid down for material recycling and reuse. All EU Member States are required to report each year to Brussels on the extent to which these targets have been achieved. A large proportion of the target is represented by the metal percentage from end-of-life vehicles. This metal percentage can be determined in two different ways: by fixed assumption or on the basis of shredder measuring campaigns.

Fixed assumption of metal percentage
EU countries that make use of a fixed assumption assume as standard that 75% of metal is classified as material recycling. The disadvantage of this reporting method is that the assumption has to be backed up by detailed information to clarify the assumed percentage reuse. In practice, the data comes in the form of statements from approved processors and of statements on the parts trade from the car dismantling sector, all in all a problematic task.

Shredder measuring campaigns
The Netherlands does not use the fixed assumption method, but instead calculates the metal percentage by using results obtained from tests in shredder measuring campaigns. These shredder measuring campaigns are undertaken periodically, and broadly speaking consist of the following steps:

• Determining a representative batch of end-of-life vehicles;
• Collecting this batch and checking the dismantled components;
• Draining and dismantling hazardous materials;
• Shredding the batch of end-of-life vehicles;
• Post-separation of the shredder waste;
• Drawing up a mass and material balance for the entire process.

The eventual metal content is the sum of metals from dismantling, shredder and post-separation. Experience at ARNThe table below represents a number of the major shredder trials undertaken by ARN. During these trials, more than 3,300 ELVs were processed. Specifically for these shredder trials, ARN elaborated measuring protocols in collaboration with TNO and TUD.