The Preston based company recycles the parts it can, and the remaining automotive shredder residue (ASR) amounts to about 25% of end-of-life vehicle (ELV) mass left. Currently, Recycling Lives is able to recover 20%, leaving 5% which normally goes to landfill due to its complex disposition.

They have developed a process that uses the 5% hard-to-recycle ASR to generate power and green energy (green hydrogen) through an energy-from-waste solution to significantly reduce the amount sent to landfill. And the firm is aiming to completely reduce landfill from vehicle ASR within four years.

Gerry Marshall, CEO of Recycling Lives, said: "The waste sector contributes 10% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, and COP27 this month will remind the world that failure to safely manage waste affects health, the environment and contributes to green house gas emissions.

"As the largest end-of-life car processor in the UK, we responsibly recycle upwards of 150,000 cars a year, and automotive shredder residue has traditionally been a major issue, accounting for up to a quarter of every vehicle's material.

"Preventing this valuable material from taking up landfill space and contributing to a cleaner, safer environment that benefits our people and our planet has been a key driver for this innovation, and we are thrilled to have played a crucial part in turning a problem into a positive solution.

"We're aiming to have our first operational plant up and running by the end of 2023, and we'll be generating power across our other main plants during 2024 and 2025, and thereafter, working on providing power back to the grid over the following 12-18 months. We're looking to achieve zero percent landfill from ASR within four years."

Recycling Lives Executive Chairman, Andrew Hodgson added: "Our company is founded on the principles of creating social value, delivering environmental innovation and governance, and we believe in doing good, sustainable business. But there's always more that we can all be doing to save the planet."