| Over 300 vehicle dismantlers and treatment facilities have now joined the network of authorised treatment facilities led by metal recycling giant EMR. European Metal Recycling, which has nine shredders across the UK to cater for end of life vehicles, has signed up nearly a third of dismantlers to its network of facilities able to de-pollute vehicles to European environmental standards. EMR It says recyclers joining the network can benefit from EMR's bargaining strength and post-shredder technology to help reach recycling targets for vehicles set by the European ELV Directive. EMR's network has not signed up itself with motor manufacturers to help them cope with producer responsibility requirements under Europe's ELV Directive. Nevertheless, it must still meet EU recycling targets for any vehicles it processes. While a recycling rate of 75% is currently being achieved for vehicles in the UK ¨C mostly through the recovery of easily-recycled metals ¨C recyclers must hit a target of 85% of vehicles from next year. Dense EMR said it is investing "heavily" its dense media separation facilities in order to close the gap on the 2006 recycling targets. The company runs two such facilities - at Blaydon, Tyneside, and one in Newmarket, Cambridgeshire ¨C processing about 4,000 tonnes of material each week. It said the target "cannot be reached economically without significant post-shredder recovery". Managing director Colin Iles said: Colin Iles, managing director of European Metal Recycling, said: "As the largest player in this industry, we are working to provide practical tools and support to help our suppliers remain competitive and achieve compliance in what will be a major challenge for many operators." "There are only benefits to be gained from joining our network. We are using our post-shredder recycling expertise to move towards the 85% target and our bargaining strength to secure exclusive deals for the collective benefit of our suppliers," Mr Iles added. | 
