How are Junk Cars Recycled?
Did you know that small local businesses — a towing company from Naperville, Illinois for example — are the ones responsible for recycling most junk vehicles all across the US? In the country alone, there are about 12 million vehicles recycled each year making this industry the 16th largest, contributing about $25 billion annually to the national GDP. And saying that that’s a lot is an understatement.
But how exactly are junk cars recycled? How can someone else reuse that vehicle of yours that’s long gone past its retirement age?
Well, the truth is that about 80 percent of a car’s composition is completely recyclable. For example, used engine oil is collected and then cleaned, so that they can be utilized again. After all, this material actually never expires or wears out, along with the fact that it’s hazardous to the environment and simply throwing it away won’t do anyone any benefits.
Similarly, all metallic parts of your junk car can be collected, melted, and then given a new form. In fact, all collected steel from this type of recycling is enough to produce about 13 million new vehicles every year — which basically means that if you have a new ride, it’s most likely safe to assume that it’s got recycled parts in it.
Tires, batteries, glass, plastic, rubber, and leather — every car has materials like these and they’re all recyclable for a wide variety of reasons. Only 20 percent of a vehicle can’t be reused, and they’re termed “auto shredder residue” or ASR. These could be dirt, paper, or wood, and there are about 5 million tons of them that are being dumped in landfills every year.
So how would a towing company in Naperville, IL recycle a car?
- Detailed Inspection
The first step is a detailed inspection of the vehicle. They would have to see first if the car is truly no longer worth repairing before they go on with the rest of the process. But if there’s still more profit in repairing the car and then selling it, then a small business wouldn’t go for the recycling option just yet. However, only about 10 percent of cars in a junkyard can be repairable rather than dismantled.
1.Draining fluids and dismantling
After their thorough inspection, a company would then begin with the collection of all salvageable materials from a vehicle by dismantling them from the body. This includes reusable liquids such as the engine oil, the remaining gas, antifreeze, and lubricants, as well as all the materials mentioned above. And then, the parts would be cleaned and processed for selling.
2. Putting up recovered parts for sale
Some parts can be sold as is or in the original State they were in after the dismantling. However, some parts can only be sent to remanufacturers for reconditioning. In any case, these parts can be sold to automakers, repair shops, or any other business that may have a use for those materials.
3. Disposal of ASR
And lastly, the company responsible for dismantling would then send the non-recyclable parts of a vehicle or the ASR for proper disposal. The body of the car is usually crushed and shredded by heavy equipment to reduce their size to be even as small as a golf ball.
That’s why if you have an old car just lying around the yard, or if you think that your current ride is nearing its expiration, make sure that you look for the best company who’d handle its recycling and disposal. Don’t let it rot in the middle of nowhere because nobody would profit from that, aside from the fact that its recyclable materials would just end up damaging the environment if left ignored.
And for you to get the best offer possible for trading in your junk car, choose a well-known and dependable company like us at Kit’s Towing. Not only do we do 24-hour roadside assistance and damage-free towing in Naperville, Illinois and beyond, but we also collect junk cars and give people a reasonable value for them. So don’t hesitate to give us a call once you’re ready to say goodbye to your vehicle, because it’ll be in safe and capable hands with us.