The consultation proposes regulations that will govern how vehicle manufacturers are to provide facilities to allow last owners to dispose of end of life vehicles (ELVs) free of charge from January 2007.

New regulations laid out in the consultation paper are designed to reduce the environmental impact of the two million vehicles that come to the end of their lives in the UK each year. They will include recovery and recycling targets of 85% by 2006 and 95% by 2015. It is thought that at the moment, the UK is achieving a rate at around 80%.

The DTI said they have opted for the "own marque" approach to the free takeback of ELVs, as had been widely anticipated. This approach means that vehicle manufacturers will be responsible for setting up their own Authorised Treatment Facilities to depollute and recycle vehicles of their own brand.

The DTI explained: "The government proposes to adopt an "own marque" approach to implementing these provisions. Vehicle manufacturers and professional importers will need to set up networks of authorised treatment facilities to de-pollute and dismantle the brands of vehicles they put on the market when they reach end-of-life."

Stakeholders are to respond to the consultation by March 30, 2004. The new regulations are expected to be put before Parliament later this year.

Previously, the government has consulted on the ELV Directive in August 2001 and March 2003, laying the first set of regulations last November to establish treatment and depollution standards for Authorised Treatment Facilities.