When a car is scrapped, 85 per cent of it can be recycled or re-used. That's according to figures collated by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), issued to the media today.

Based on cars scrapped through licensed treatment facilities in 2006, the data shows that car makers have hit one of the benchmarks set in the End of Life Vehicles Directive. This said that 85% of a scrap car must be capable of recovery (including energy) by 2006, rising to 95% by 2015.

"The news confirms car makers’ drive to deliver in all areas of sustainability," commented SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt. "Build-to-recycle is now an integral part of the design process. Alongside better performance at manufacturing sites and lower emissions from cars in-use, today’s news shows that sustainability continues to be top of the industry agenda."

Under the End of Life Regulation, manufacturers were required to contract with Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs). These licensed premises would ensure convenient and cost-free take back of scrap cars for owners. But they would also guarantee that vehicles had been disposed of in an environmentally friendly way, with Certificates of Destruction (CoDs) issued to the owner and DVLA.

The process firstly involves de-polluting a vehicle, removing its harmful liquids, tyres and deploying the airbags. The remaining materials are then shredded to recover valuable parts like steel, aluminium and recyclable plastics. Recovery rates are collated by BERR.

According to BERR figures, a total of 305,000 vehicles were handled by the two agents contracted by motor manufacturers, Cartakeback and Autogreen, in 2006. Of these 190,000 were handled under contract with car makers.

In total, 685,000 Certificates of Destruction were issued in 2006. DVLA were also notified of a further 215,000 vehicles through Notices of Destruction (NoDs).