Consumers or manufacturers to ultimately pay the costs to recycle old cars?

According to the draft bill on recycling cars accepted by the Cabinet on Tuesday, all car manufacturers and importers would be obliged to cover costs of recycling or scrapping the vehicle when it has finished its life cycle. Calculations indicate that the cost will be around zl. 500 per vehicle. Environment Minister Stanislaw Zelichowski hopes that the bill will be passed and come into force in mid-2003. Selected companies will be res ponsible for recycling the vehicles. "It will not be a concession and each company which meets requirements of the law, will receive permission," said Zelichowski. According to the bill, car producers are to cover the costs, not vehicles owners, but analysts believe that part of the cost will be passed onto the consumer in one form or another. The Environment Ministry thinks that the bill will help fight unemployment, as recycling companies will create several thousand new jobs. The government claims the bill will bring Polish law in line with EU regulations. However, automotive market analysts claim that, "EU directives state that car manufacturers, can but do not have to recycle the vehicle, as until 2007 there is a transition p eriod." (Parkiet, p. 1) M.M.