If your old jalopy is spewing fumes and not very reliable on cold mornings, you no longer have to pay to have it scrapped before moving on to your new hybrid. Car manufacturers are being forced to pay for cars of all ages to be recycled, where previously this was only the case for cars made later than 2002. The move has not been popular with car manufacturers, but will mean that car owners no longer have to pay to have their car crushed, compacted and recycled when it reaches the end of the road.

The EU intends the End of Life Vehicles Directive to reduce waste and pollution caused by illegal dumping of old cars, as well as to provide recycled and reusable materials for new manufacture. Over 80% of each car can be salvaged.

(Via: Guardian Unlimited, ecolocal & BBC News)