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Everyone loves their cars when they are shiny and new, but the shine eventually wears off until one day the vehicle shows its first sign of malfunctioning. Whether it was involved in a bad car accident, sustained damages caused by natural disasters, or simply has reached the point where it isn’t worth fixing anymore, you should start thinking of getting rid of your decrepit vehicle.
Luckily, there are many ways you can dispose of an inoperable, totaled, or wrecked car, with recycling being one of the most popular recently with the general public. The process typically involves dismantling vehicles for spare parts which can later be reused for different purposes, providing both people and the environment with plenty of benefits.
To gain a better understanding of the auto recycling process, here’s a comprehensive guide elaborating on where and how junk cars get recycled as well as how the process contributes to saving the environment.
Where do junk cars get recycled?
Because the process of recycling a vehicle is very complicated, it is important that it is performed by professionals who have the appropriate tools and equipment, and know how to handle and remove hazardous materials. These professionals are usually found at auto-recycling facilities or junkyards where they first perform a detailed inspection of the car to see whether it is more valuable to repair than to recycle.
If they determine that repairing isn’t worth it, then the process of dismantling and recycling the vehicle can begin. The overall cost for the procedure will mainly depend on the type of car you have, how valuable the parts are, and your location.
For example, if you live in the Philly area you’ll need to shop around for the best junkyard or auto-recycling facility near you where you get a handful of cash for your junk car in Philadelphia as well as free towing services.
How do they get recycled?
The auto-recycling process goes through several distinct stages which are performed in a set order. It is imperative that the order of the steps of recycling is followed properly so that the parts are dismantled correctly without causing any adverse effects on the environment. These stages are depollution, dismantling, destruction, and resource recovery.
For instance, the depollution stage involves removing all the fluids that are used in the operation of the vehicle such as gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, and AC refrigerant. Once removed, these fluids are stored in tanks and safely contained until they can be reused or recycled.
The dismantling stage involves removing the usable parts of the car for resale. They are typically worth more than their scrap value and can be recycled directly for use in other vehicles without having to be melted down and recast.
The destruction stage is basically the crushing and shedding of the remains of the vehicle by a giant machine and turning them into scrap metal. Most of the materials will be aluminum and steel which are further sold to manufacturers.
The resource recovery stage is the final step of the auto-recycling process in which the chunks of mixed metal are further processed by machines to separate the ferrous metals from the non-ferrous ones. The purpose of this stage is to reclaim every possible bit of the car which is beneficial both for the environment and for the auto recycling industry.
Benefits of junk car recycling
Although the auto recycling process may seem long and exhaustive, the benefits that come from it cannot be overlooked. From preventing air pollution and protecting wildlife to conserving energy and resources and reusing valuable parts, it is safe to say that the industry helps society as a whole in many different ways.
Besides these advantages, scrapping your car can also help free up room on your property, allowing you to use the space to place a new vehicle or utilize it for different purposes.
Final thoughts
If you are looking for a way to get rid of your inoperable, totaled, or wrecked vehicle, recycling is a great option to consider. It allows you to dispose of your car in an environmentally-friendly way which can help you save and even make money from it in return.
If you want to know more about it, refer to our post and learn where and how you can recycle your junk car and the benefits you and the environment can get from doing so.
