Should You Recycle Your Old Car?

You may be considering whether you should recycle your old car in an effort to preserve the environment. Auto recycling is a rapidly growing industry, with 27 million vehicles recycled worldwide every year. Consider the following benefits and facts that can help you make a decision about your vehicle.

The Environmental Benefits of Auto Recycling

Cars are one of the most recyclable products on the planet, with almost 80 percent of parts and materials salvageable from any given vehicle. The process of recycling steel expends 74 percent less energy than crafting new steel. Overall, auto recycling keeps 25 million tons of material out of landfills every year.

Who Will Take Your Junk Car?

First, contact the original manufacturer of the vehicle. Some companies offer a buy-back program in which owners are paid for turning over their aged vehicles. At the very least, the car owner will not be charged any fees related to transporting and recycling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency encourages car manufacturers in these programs to increase safe environmental practices.

Consider donating your car to charity and you can receive a tax deduction in return. Even junk cars are accepted because if they cannot be repaired and driven, they will be recycled.

If you are having difficulty finding a reputable auto recycling organization, obtain a list of scrap yards in your region that operate according to best environmental standards. It is worth it to be selective about which company you choose to recycle your car — companies not up to par may not properly remove gasoline, antifreeze and other harmful substances, causing them to spill into the surrounding land.

How Does the Recycling Process Work?

If needed, contact a local towing company that can transport your expired vehicle to a local auto wrecking yard. The yard’s first step is to dismantle the car. At this stage, all useable parts are taken out of the vehicle and cleaned, such as alternators or catalytic converters, and they are sometimes put up for sale, depending on demand. Additionally, tires are taken off the vehicle to be retreaded or ground up for reuse, batteries are extracted and recycled, and all fluids are safely disposed of.

Then, the vehicle is crushed using heavy-duty equipment. The shredder breaks the vehicle into smaller parts and the aluminum is separated from the rest of the metal. At this stage, the non-recyclable portion of the vehicle, the auto shredder residue (ASR), is also separated and transported to a landfill. Some examples of ASR include particles of glass, fabric, wood, dirt and more.

In conclusion, whether or not you should recycle your car is a personal decision, but your choice can have a definite impact on the environment either way. Contact Stauffer’s Towing if you decide to recycle your car and need fast auto transport to your nearest scrap yard, because their auto wreckers are on call around the clock.