WITH the car scrappage scheme ended, motorists planning to send their out-of-use vehicle to the scrap yard are warned of the dangers of dealing with unlicensed operators.
Paul Long, owner of Long’s scrap yard at Drombanna, insists that some have fallen prey to operators without a valid Waste Collection or Waste Facility Permit.
He emphasised that the public must realise that it is their responsibility to dispose of their old car at an authorised facility.
“Lately, it has been found that unscrupulous operators nationwide are taking advantage of people wanting to get rid of their car.
“There have been some horror stories where people have given their cars to them without having received a certificate of destruction.
“Often these vehicles are put back on the road and the original owner could receive a parking/speeding fine from elsewhere in the country, as the vehicle would still be registered in their name.
“In one case brought to our attention, a car was stripped of everything and abandoned in a beauty spot in the Clare area.
“Clare county council notified the owner and he ended up in court with a hefty fine to pay”.
The local environment departments in the city and county councils work in conjunction with operators to ensure that necessary requirements are met.
The operator should issue the owner with a certificate, needed to deregister the vehicle in the registration unit in Shannon.
“We, like other legitimate scrap yard owners, guarantee clients that they will be immune from the law…..all obligations are fulfilled.
“The council and the Environmental Protection Agency are also informed that possession has been taken.
“It is the end of it as far as the owners are concerned,” concluded Paul.
The approved list of operators is listed on the County Council’s website.
