A beginner's guide to auto recycling

A beginner’s guide to auto recycling

6 September 2023

recyclingautomotive.

AutoScrap is proud of its simplified, streamlined process for helping customers dispose of their cars. When your vehicle arrives at the scrapyard, a complex and detailed process begins to safely remove hazardous liquids, and then disassemble it for recoverable parts and materials. To demystify and inform our customers about the process, we’ve prepared a “crash course” on automotive recycling!

What happens when my car leaves my garage?

Automotive recycling companies buy used cars in order to recover them for re-saleable parts and valuable recyclable materials. However, the process is more complex than you might think. The battery, as well as a large number of hazardous fluids (coolant, oils, fuels, etc.), must be removed very carefully and in compliance with municipal, provincial and federal environmental laws before the car can be stripped for parts. Once this operation is complete, the car can be disassembled to extract the recyclable raw materials.

Simple steps in the car recycling guide

Step 1 – Pre-treatment

Once your old vehicle has arrived at the auto recycler, the first stage of the recycling process can begin. Here, your car will be emptied of all fluids in compliance with environmental regulations. Extracted fluids will be transported for safe disposal or recycled and resold. Then your fuel tank, tires and battery will also be removed. Depending on their condition, these parts will be reconditioned for resale as used parts, or sold as recyclable materials.

Step 2 – Processing

Once the fluids have been safely removed, we begin the process of evaluating the remaining parts. Stop/turn signals, floor mats and many other components can be refurbished and resold.

Most scraps leave refurbished, repaired and functional parts in the car, allowing customers to extract them themselves with the appropriate tools. Other recycling centers choose to repair and resell them locally or online.

Stage 3 – Recycling and compaction

The car will then be recycled for materials such as metal, rubber and glass. All that remains will then be compacted and recycled.

Not sure you want to sell your old car for scrap?

To help you make your decision, we suggest you ask yourself the following questions:

1) Is your car costing you more in repairs than its market value?

It’s time to send it to Auto-Scrap .

2) Has your car stopped working?

It’s time to send it to Auto-Scrap .

3) Is your car more than 10 years old?

It’s time to send it to Auto-Scrap .

4) Is your car in an accident?

It’s time to send it to Auto-Scrap .

If you need more information or to make an appointment for a pickup, contact Auto-Scrap today!