Car Recycling

When it comes to end-of-life vehicles in today’s world, car recycling is really the only responsible option when considering the volume of the vehicle and the number of vehicles on the road today. Car recycling isn’t as simple as sorting papers and plastics, because there are a variety of ways to recycle and re-purpose a vehicle. Car recycling isn’t just for early model vehicles that have lost their sparkle, but also for cars that have been wrecked or damaged to the point where it would be more costly to repair than to replace.

The first way to recycle a car is to parts it and strip it, which is particularly common for cars that are prematurely leaving the roadways due to a major accident. The car will be inspected by a professional to determine what parts of the car are still viable to be used in other vehicles. This includes major parts such as the engine and exhaust system as well as smaller things like side mirrors, tires and doors. These parts will often go to salvage yards where they are sorted and sold at a fraction of the price it would be to buy them new. Purchasing salvaged parts is an affordable option if a vehicle has been in a minor accident and needs say a new bumper or rear door. Scrap dealers keep an inventory of what parts they have as well as specific information such as the brand, year, model and color of the part. With internet buying and selling become more and more common, some scrap dealers have even moved their business online making it even easier to find just the right part you’re looking for.

After the viable parts have been removed, the rest of the car is then scrapped. The different metals and glass are separated and often sold to scrap metal handlers where they will be melted down to create new parts, and fluids such as engine oil and antifreeze are drained and properly disposed of.