The UK may have left the EU, but the ELV sector remains shaped by developments in Europe, and those developments are accelerating. For Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs), the question is not whether change will have an impact, but how significant that impact will be and whether businesses are prepared to adapt. The UK continues to operate under the retained ELV framework. Operationally, little has shifted since Brexit, but that looks set to change.   The EU Is Raising the Bar The EU is...

Lithium-ion batteries are now everywhere — from vapes, mobile phones, cordless tools, to hybrid and fully electric vehicles. A recent city-centre fire in Glasgow, reportedly originating in a vape shop, highlights a growing risk that extends far beyond retail environments. For Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs), the incident serves as a stark reminder that the same chemistry powering electric vehicles can also drive destructive thermal runaway events if not properly managed.

In early March 2026, police in Nottinghamshire arrested a man after 1,700 metres of copper cable was ripped from beneath the A617 near Kelham. Officers discovered tools consistent with cable theft and vehicles believed to be involved in the crime. Incidents like this are becoming increasingly common across the UK. While cable theft may appear to be an infrastructure or utilities issue, Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) and vehicle recyclers also sit within the wider metal recycling...