In simple terms, the directive requires producers to take financial responsibility for the free take-back and recovery of ELVs with effect from 1 July 2002 in respect of vehicles put on the market from that date and 1 January 2007 in respect of all vehicles. Thus, the final owners of ELVs covered by the directive will be entitled to deposit their vehicles at permitted dismantlers free of charge from not later than 1 January 2007. This will be a far cry from the current position where responsible ELV owners generally deposit their vehicles at vehicle dismantlers or shredders for treatment and recovery, incurring, in a significant percentage of cases, a gate fee in the process. The implementation of the free ELV take-back provisions of the directive should result in a reduction in the number of ELVs abandoned by their last owners, thereby reducing their availability for joy-riding and other anti-social purposes. This should ease the burden on local authorities who have had to deal with the collection and recovery of abandoned vehicles from their own resources.