The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) wants a European plan to stop the export of old, broken and polluting cars to Africa. Based on its own research, the inspectorate reports that at least 20,000 Dutch cars per year that go to Africa should actually be scrapped.
The Netherlands exports approximately 250,000 used cars every year. 80,000 of them no longer meet the emission requirements and would be scrapped in the Netherlands. A quarter of those cars end up in Africa.
Almost every European country exports cars to Africa and according to ILT the quality of the vehicles from other countries is often no better. This results in more emissions of particulate matter and CO2 and in unsafe traffic situations. Of all cars that go to Africa annually from the Netherlands, 80 percent will no longer be welcome in fifteen West African countries from next year, due to the low quality.
“If we only take action from the Netherlands, this will lead to diversionary behavior of exporters to other European ports and contribute little to solving this problem. Our report gives an important signal that rapid and coordinated action is needed”, says Inspector General from ILT Jan van den Bos in a statement.
State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Stientje van Veldhoven concurs with the words of Van den Bos. “The Netherlands cannot tackle this problem on its own. That is why I argue for a coordinated European approach and close cooperation between European and African governments.”
A proposal from ILT is to legally adjust when a car is waste, so that the vehicle can be dismantled and recycled in the EU. The United Nations Environmental Department (UNEP) reports that it is pleased with the results of the study and says that it will collaborate with the Netherlands, among others, on better regulation.