Authorised Treatment Facility For ELV’s

Paul Downing & Associates has helped many end of life vehicle recyclers become ATF’s (Authorised Treatment Facility). We can help apply for and obtaining a vehicle depollution permit, scrap metal permit or environmental permit from the Environment Agency. The process of applying for an ELV permit is not straightforward. See “Setting Up a Vehicle Dismantler Site“.

We can help with all aspects of the ELV permit application and scrap metal permit application. This includes reviewing the size of the site and sealed drainage. This is a requirement of fire prevention plan guidance. The vehicle depollution permit will take a couple of months to pull together. It will take the EA a further 4-6 months before the permit is eventually granted. Above all the FPP needs to be approved before a permit can be issued. This may require several versions and updates before it is approved. Each point of the guidance above must be complied with. In many cases it will be necessary to install new infrastructure on site in order to comply.

You may need to install concrete firebays or a sealed drainage system. Once the FPP is approved by the EA then this is what they will expect to see during their site visits. It is not just a paper exercise. Note that if you store waste inside a building then this may need a fire suppression system. This can be very expensive.

Bespoke Permit

Once you have an ELV permit you can take in end of life vehicles and depollute them according to the conditions on the permit. Permitted activities may include baling tyres, shearing, shredding, cutting and treatment by other means as approved by the EA. Bespoke permits tend to be more complex and costly. Eligibility for a standard rules permit is something that is discussed at the very beginning of the application process. This however depends on your location, tonnages involved and because of the treatment options required by you. Bespoke permit fees can be high, 2-4 times higher than a corresponding standard rules permit application.

Vehicle Depollution Permit – Site Requirements

Your site must be large enough to meet the 6m boundary requirements in the FPP guidance. Consequently this can prove difficult for smaller operators. In contrast, larger sites will have to deal with larger waste volumes so other factors such as fire water and storage may be an issue. Make a note of the infrastructure costs associated with the permit application above all, costs associated with fire detection and suppression in buildings as well as surfacing and drainage costs. If you store waste in a building you must install fire detection and automatic suppression. Other costs will include the de-pollution rig, waste storage tanks, bunds and lighting.

Site Plans

Please be aware that any plans you submit to the Environment Agency need to be approved by them before a permit is issued. Once a permit is issued those plans also become part of the permitted conditions on site. Please do not think that you can apply for and obtain and ELV permit in a couple of weeks and it will cost you a few hundred pounds. It will not. You are looking at a fairly costly investment in your business in both of time and money. Once you have gone through the process however the rewards can make the process worthwhile.

We can advise on all issues that might arise before you embark on the process.

Call us to day for an informal discussion. 01428 768 087 or 07790147084.

Call (01428) 768-087

Services

We can provide all of the services necessary to help you apply to become an authorised treatment facility (ATF).

This includes applying for the correct environmental permit and producing all of the correct supporting information and surveys required by the application process. These are however, different for different operators depending on the type of permit and type of operation applied for. Below are some of our services frequently requested by operators wanting to become ATF’s, please note that every operator and every site is different. Some clients require full support whilst others only require ad-hoc support during the process.

• Overview of new sites and suitability therefore for ATF use
• Review of drainage requirements and sealed systems
• Sizing of waste piles to meet the FPP guidance
• Fire Prevention Plans
• Risk assessments
• Application forms and supporting surveys
• Site condition reports
• Management systems
• Installation of fire-bays
• Storage arrangements and racking

The services we provide however are bespoke and dependant on your requirements. No two permit applications therefore are the same. We try to deal with each application on a case by case basis. You may find that older sites operating under older waste management licences do not have to comply with the new regulations. They will eventually have to catch up. However it is only new applications and variations that have to comply with the FPP guidance.

Other Requirements

A pre-application screen may prove invaluable. This will determine if there are any sensitive areas close by that might cause complications. We will screen for habitats and ecology and similarly any close proximity rivers or abstraction boreholes.

Contact us today for an informal discussion and how to best approach your application, similarly call us if you have been visited by the EA especially if you trade on eBay.