The European Council wants to make it mandatory to hand in motorcycles when the have come to ‘the end of their life’.

A majority of EU member states wants to include motorcycles in the new Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles (end-of-life vehicle means a vehicle which is waste or vehicles that are irreparable). Some members did ask for more data and for feasibility studies when it comes to inclusion of motorcycles and other powered two- and three-wheelers. This is the outcome of an environment meeting of the European Council on Tuesday 17 December 2024. The Hungarian presidency of the European Union was not able to complete the end-of-life dossier and reach a Council position, so it will now be handled by the Polish presidency, which will start from January 2025.

The European Commission’s proposal states: ‘Two- and three-wheeled vehicles are currently not subject to any Union legislation concerning their eco-design and management at their end-of-life stages. To ensure a circular framework for all vehicles registered in the European Union, including their environmentally sound treatment, as well as to prevent fragmentation of the single market, this Regulation should also apply L-category vehicles L3e-L7e (L3e = two-wheel motorcycle, L4e = two-wheel motorcycle with side-car, L5e = powered tricycle, L6e = light quadricycle, L7e = heavy quadricycles). The requirements regarding the collection of end-of-life vehicles, their mandatory delivery to authorised treatment facilities for treatment as well as their depollution should apply to L-category vehicles (L3e-L7e). Manufacturers will be required to provide information on the removal and replacement of parts, components, and materials.’ (…) ‘To facilitate treatment of these end-of-life vehicles, their manufacturers should be required to provide information on the removal and replacement of parts, components and materials from such vehicles. Also, the provisions governing the extended producer responsibility should apply to these vehicle categories, covering the costs of their collection and depollution at their end-of-life.’

FEMA’s General Secretary, Wim Taal`, who followed the debate: “FEMA asked the European Commission to ensure that the possibility of controlled in-house demolition remains possible (as part of a circular economy), either by including it in the Regulation, or by allowing Member States to make their own rules and regulations for in-house demolition. If motorcycles were to be included in the scope of the directive, that could mean the end of so-called home recycling. Recycling of motorcycles and motorcycle parts is an inherent part of motorcycle use. Home recycling, where you end the bike’s registration and take it apart for re-use of its parts, is a significant part of the motorcycle culture. Home recycling helps to keep bikes on the road with used spare parts, instead of using new parts that must be produced from raw materials.” “Although FEMA supports the overall goals of the proposed Regulation, we do see the danger for smaller treatment facilities that currently sell used motorcycle parts; they can be overwhelmed by high implementation costs and adaptation to new treatment technologies.” Click here for FEMA’s full position.

Source: European Council

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