The Benefits Of Automotive Scrap Yard Recycling
In the never-ending search to engineer more ways to make life increasingly environmentally friendly, more and more people are discovering the benefits of automotive scrap yard recycling. It might surprise some to discover that used automobiles, even non-functioning ones, are highly recyclable items, capable of being salvaged for both parts and materials. Not only does this practice help protect the environment and combat climate change, it provides affordable effective parts to budget-minded motorists.
The Automotive Scrap Yard Recycling Process
Recycling an automobile is a straight-forward though intricate process that requires the expertise of professional mechanics and other automotive specialists.
Removing Hazardous Fluids
Once your car arrives on the lot for automotive scrap yard recycling, it must be voided of all hazardous and toxic liquids. Fluids such as gasoline, oil, lubricants, antifreeze and coolants must be safely disposed of by licensed professionals. If they seep into the surrounding environment or contaminate a water supply it could spell disaster for nearby ecosystems and the health of plants, animals, and even humans. Safely contained, these liquids are either recycled and resold to motorists or sent to specialized treatment plants to be safely disposed of.
Salvaging Used Parts
Any scrap car removal service like Auto-Scrap will tell you that a used automobile, even a non-functioning one, is a treasure trove of used parts that can be salvaged or resold. Most automotive scrap yard recycling companies will inspect your car for its working parts on site. Depending on the company, some will leave your car on their lot for motorists to pick parts from, while others remove parts and store them in a warehouse.
Recycling Raw Materials
Once your car has been picked clean of useful parts, the chassis is recycled for raw materials like metal, rubber, and tempered glass. Recycling these materials instead of mining, refining, and processing them significantly reduces the disruption to the natural environment through excavation. Additionally, recycling consumes less energy and produces far less waste and dangerous air emissions (C02), proving to be a far greener, environmentally sound process that can reduce our carbon footprint and combat climate change.
A Variety Of Recyclable Uses
Although a good amount of materials recycled from cars end up being used to manufacture new automobiles, that is not their only destination. The automotive scrap yard recycling process finds its raw materials being used in a wide variety of other items and for other uses!
Metal
Automobiles are great sources of two metals: steel and aluminum. Both these metals are highly sought by a wide variety of industries, including building and railway construction for steel, and canning and appliance manufacturing for aluminum. So the next time you see girders being lifted on a construction site or drink a soda from a can, you may be watching part of your used car in action!
Rubber
The rubber from automobile tires is most commonly used for crumb rubber in artificial turf. Further applications for recycled rubber tires are almost endless when you consider their use in thermoplastic resins. Thermoplastic can be used to create anything from children’s toys to water bottles to bullet-proof vests!
Glass
Glass from automobiles is being used to create everything from decorative mirrors, to countertops and kitchen dinnerware (i.e. plates, bowls, decanters). Some innovative companies like UncommonGoods.com have even sold punch bowls and beer and wine glasses made from windshield glass!
For more information on the automotive scrap yard recycling process or to sell your car today, visit Auto-Scrap.