Management of the end-of-life vehicle recycling in the Caribbean. Policy Brief
Work area(s)
Management of the end-of-life vehicle recycling in the Caribbean. Policy Brief
- Publication type: ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean (Studies and Research Papers)
- Publication corporate author (Institutional author): NU. CEPAL. Sede Subregional para el Caribe
- Physical description: 11 p.
- Publisher: ECLAC, Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean
- UN symbol (Signature): LC/CAR/2024/11
- Date: October, 2024
Abstract
The Caribbean faces mounting challenges related to the management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). The increasing influx of vehicles, in the face of limited land availability and environmental vulnerabilities, demands a comprehensive and sustainable approach to ELV recycling. The increase in vehicle importation over the past three decades has been made possible, in part, by economic factors such as increased incomes associated with economic growth, as well as social factors such as urbanization and lifestyle preferences which demand greater independence and private mobility (Phillips et al, 2023). Perhaps the most significant impetus however has been the importation and availability of used vehicles, sourced at significantly reduced costs from South-East Asia (Japan, Singapore and South Korea). Today, such imports have resulted in high vehicle population ratios, ranging from between 0.45 to 0.95 for many Caribbean countries.