AREA Establishes Vehicle Recycling
Network Across British Columbia
Click Here: AREA's End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling Network
The Automotive Recyclers Environmental Association has established a Province-wide network of Certified Automotive Recyclers that will process End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) to all Federal and Provincial Environmental Standards. Go to http://area-bc.ca/index.php/membership to find out the closest Certified Automotive Recycler.
In addition, the Automotive Recyclers in the East Kootenays have agreed to help keep the Regional District’s transfer stations and landfills clear of unwanted vehicles.
The quick removal of unwanted vehicles is important as the public can be tempted to remove parts from the vehicles releasing hazardous materials into the environment and creating a contaminated site. Photos 1 was taken in June 2011 at one of the transfer stations operated by the Regional District. The mess was created by the public trying to remove parts from the unwanted vehicles.
The auto recyclers are towing the unwanted vehicles to their processing facility where the hazardous materials were removed. Under the Ministry of Environment’s Vehicle Dismantling and Recycling Industry Environmental Planning Regulation, companies that process 5 or more End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) must be registered with the Ministry of Environment and have an Environmental Management Plan. All three companies meet the MoE’s requirements and each recycler is inspected by the Automotive Recyclers Environmental Association to ensure that the hazardous materials in ELVs are removed and recycled to MoE standards.
For more information on the Environmental Management Program for automotive recyclers, go to www.area-bc.ca or contact Colin McKean at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Chris Taylor, owner of Farbrook Auto Recyclers reported that so far his workers have collected 41 vehicles from the Wasa Lake and Tie Lake Transfer Stations in the East Kootenays. The vehicles contained 75 litres of engine oil, 45 litres of transmission and differential oils, 6 litres of brake and power steering oils, 14 litres engine coolant, 7 mercury switches, 4 batteries, 8 litres washer fluids and 30 tires. None of the vehicles had the harmful refrigerants R12 or HFC134a. Farbrook also cleaned up approx 50kg of contaminated soil.
In addition, the three automotive recyclers are also willing to receive unwanted vehicles at their business and that the public should contact the automotive recyclers directly.
The Automotive Recyclers Environmental Association (AREA) hopes to work with other Regional Districts and set up similar programs so that vehicles are not abandoned on public property and the hazardous materials in ELVs are removed and recycled to Ministry of Environment standards. For more information about AREA and its environmental program for automotive recyclers go to www.area-bc.ca or email Colin McKean at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.