Spanish shredders tackle thousands of car wrecks from Valencia flooding

The storm that devastated Spain’s coastal region of Valencia in October has left between 150 000 and 200 000 vehicles stranded, creating a huge challenge for recovery and recycling, according to recycling experts.

One month after the disaster, Spanish recyclers have been of great help to the authorities. Members of the national metal recycling industry body FER demonstrated solidarity by providing critical support for reconstruction efforts in the affected areas, FER director Alicia García-Franco Zúñiga tells Recycling International from Madrid.

In the days following the widespread flooding which took 230 lives and destroyed infrastructure, FER members left their workplaces to assist municipalities and state authorities. ‘Using specialised machinery and heavy-duty trucks, they tackled the immense task of clearing debris, removing mud and recovering waste to help communities return to normal as swiftly as possible,’ says Garcia.

Industry steps up

According to Garcia, FER played a crucial co-ordinating role, connecting its members with local government and responding rapidly to urgent requests for assistance. ‘A steady stream of vehicles and machinery flowed into affected areas, with recyclers shifting focus to complex tasks such as decontaminating and dismantling damaged vehicles.’

Contamination challenge

It is estimated the storm left around 200 000 cars stranded and in need of processing. Initially, these vehicles were relocated to temporary areas. ‘Recycling companies from all over the country are now preparing to handle the major decontamination and dismantling work,’ says Garcia. ‘That’s a hell of a job. Apart from the usual fluids and other contaminants, these car wrecks are full of sand and mud, as you can imagine, and you have to get rid of that before you put the cars in the shredder in order to avoid equipment getting stuck and damaged.’

The FER director says Spain has enough shredder capacity to do the job. ‘Our recycling sector processed 700 000 vehicles last year so they’ve proved they can manage such challenges.’

Damaged yards, no insurance

While many recycling companies have been hands-on in their recovery efforts, the storm has also caused devastating losses within the sector. ‘Several of our members saw their own facilities severely damaged or even completely destroyed. For some, the tragedy was worsened by the lack of insurance coverage, because many insurers are reluctant to underwrite the risks associated with recycling operations.’