From January 1st, car buyers in Belgium will pay an additional 10 euros environmental contribution when buying a new car or van. This contribution will pay for the future recycling of the vehicle, reports Febelauto, the Belgian management body for both end-of-life vehicles and batteries from hybrids and EVs.

Febelauto has been managing the recycling of end-of-life vehicles in Belgium since 1999. Recognized centers and shredder plans depollute and dismantle end-of-life vehicles and recycle all kinds of materials efficiently and environmentally responsibly.

Belgium at the top of EU car recycling

In this way, 97,6% of cars are already recycled in Belgium: 21% of vehicle parts are reused and thus get a second life. The rest – except for 2,4% – is skillfully recycled down to the raw material level. This makes Belgium one of the top European countries, says Febelauto director Catherine Lenaerts.

One of the largest recycling companies in Belgium is Galloo, situated at the French border in Menen, West Flanders, which has started a joint venture for recycling with the Stellantis Group.

New recycling challenges

However, new recycling challenges come with the rise of EVs and more complex technologies. All innovations also create recycling challenges, hence the introduction from January 1st of an environmental contribution of 10 euros, including 21% VAT, on each new car sold. With the ecological contribution, Febelauto wants to continue to guarantee proper functioning in the future.

Now, one can bring his end-of-life vehicle free of charge at a point of sale or an authorized recycling center. In addition, Febelauto also provides a budget for research and development on techniques for the environmentally friendly recycling of vehicles and batteries from electric and hybrid cars.

In 2022, Febelauto recuperated 120 tons of hybrid and electric vehicle batteries to be recycled – three times more than the 37 tons of the previous year.

New EU battery regulation

From  February 18th, the new European battery regulation will also come into force. That regulation emphasizes increasing recycling rates and introduces restrictions on the use of mercury, lead, and cadmium, and batteries must also consist of a certain percentage of recycled material.

With the heavy road transport sector rapidly switching to electric or hybrid vehicles, Febelauto also wants to tackle the recycling of high-voltage batteries from trucks and buses. Such batteries can efficiently serve another decade in sustainable energy storage systems.

From 2027, batteries must have a so-called ‘Battery Passport’, in which all information about the battery in question can be found digitally.