Scrap My Car: What happens to my vehicle after it is scrapped?

While it is important for vehicle manufacturers to find ways to make new cars and trucks more environmentally friendly, it is just as important what happens to old cars after they are scrapped. In North America alone, more than 12 million automobiles are scrapped yearly by vehicle recycling companies. This number makes cars the most recycled item in the country. Therefore, the way you dispose your old car, truck, van or SUV represents an impressive opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint.

Approximately 75-80% of your retired ride can be recycled. The vehicle recycling process starts with removing the largest parts of your car such as the engine, transmission, doors, and bumpers. These parts can often be recycled directly for use in other vehicles without needing to be melted down and recast. However, the sale of reusable parts from old cars is only a small piece of the auto recycling pie.

After the larger pieces are removed, the car is carefully disassembled at an Authorized Treatment Facility (ATF) to collect all the fluids and keep them from getting into the environment where they could pollute the ground and water. All those fluids are then stored in tanks and safely contained until they can also be reused or recycled.

Did you know that approximately 18 million tons of steel is derived each year from junk vehicles? Across North America, automotive recycling provides around 40 percent of ferrous metal for scrap processing industry. The recycled steel can be melted down and reused without a loss of performance. On average, a new car has around 25 percent of its body made from recycled steel.

As well as reducing waste, recycled steel has added benefits because it has a much lower environmental impact than mining and processing iron ore to make new steel.  Indeed, using recycled steel instead of iron ore generates 97% less mining waste and uses 40% less water.

However, steel and car parts are not the only products that are recycled from old cars and trucks. Approximately 100 million rubber tires are recycled each year.  The rubber from the recycled tires is used for items such as playground surfaces, garden mulch and even in the manufacture of new tires.

Another recyclable car part is the battery which has close to a 99 percent recycling rate.  The lead from the battery is melted and reused in much the same way as steel. The plastic components are also recycled. The acid from the old battery is used two ways. Either it is neutralized so it turns into water, or it is processed and converted to sodium sulfate. Sodium sulfate can then be used in the manufacture of laundry detergent, textiles, or glass.

Auto glass was not a previously recycled product but technology over the past twenty plus years has changed that. Leading windshield replacement companies are now embracing the recycling of old auto glass, including windshields. However, the recycling of windshields is more complicated other glass because the windshield is formed of two layers of glass surrounding a plastic film. As such, windshield recycling falls into the realm of both glass and plastic recycling. Once recycled, auto glass has many uses including being made into vases, bottles, bowls and even tiles and other household surfaces.

Let Recycle Your Auto Towing and Scrap Car Removal come and pick up your forgotten old vehicle. We will remove your junk car, truck, van or SUV from your property without leaving a mark behind! Not only will you make money from recycling your vehicle with us, you can also feel good knowing that all the parts of your automobile will be recycled with Mother Nature’s approval.

Call or text us today at 778-RECYCLE (778-732-9253) for a free quote and immediate service.

Categorised in: Blog

This post was written by chris