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Guidance

Retaining shock absorbers and airbags in end of life vehicles (ELVs): RPS 195

Updated 10 August 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/retaining-shock-absorbers-and-airbags-in-otherwise-fully-depolluted-elvs-rps-195/retaining-shock-absorbers-and-airbags-in-otherwise-fully-depolluted-elvs-rps-195

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to comply with an environmental permit for a waste operation when you store intact shock absorbers and undeployed airbags in otherwise fully depolluted ELVs on hardstanding.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with this legal requirement provided that:

  • your activity meets the description set out in this RPS

  • you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

  • cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals

  • cause a nuisance through noise or odours

  • adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest

Activity this RPS applies to

This RPS applies:

  • to the storage of intact shock absorbers and undeployed airbags in otherwise fully depolluted ELVs on hardstanding
  • only to ELVs that are on site before 7 August 2026

Conditions you must comply with

For ELVs brought to site under this RPS, you must ensure that:

  • the ELVs are fully depolluted before they are stored on hardstanding, except for the intact shock absorbers or undeployed airbags (or both)

  • the ELVs are stored and treated in accordance with your environmental permit

  • the shock absorbers or airbags are suitable for reuse

  • the shock absorbers have not been damaged and are not leaking oil

  • the airbags have not been damaged or deployed

  • you keep records for 3 years to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the Environment Agency on request

You must not:

  • send ELVs for mechanical treatment unless they have been fully depolluted – see guidance on ELV treatment
  • damage or prevent the reuse of airbags or shock absorbers
  • use this RPS for ELVs brought to your site after 7 August 2026

When you must check back

The Environment Agency will withdraw this RPS on 7 May 2027.

The Environment Agency can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the review date if they consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RPS relates to has not changed.

You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the withdrawal date, to see if this RPS still applies.

This RPS remains in force until it is removed from GOV.UK or is otherwise identified as having been withdrawn.

You can subscribe to email updates about this RPS. These will tell you if the RPS has changed and when it has been withdrawn. Use the ‘Get emails about this page’ feature on the RPS publication page.

If you cannot comply with this RPS

If you operate under this RPS but can no longer comply with it, you must stop the activity to which this RPS relates and must tell the Environment Agency immediately. Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk with RPS 195 in the subject.

Contact the Environment Agency

If you have any questions about this RPS email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk with RPS 195 in the subject.

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