Is your car in its final life stage? Do you need to buy a new one but don’t know what to do with the old one? Car recycling can be a great solution. Understand the importance of the circular economy, how the process works, and which car parts can be recycled (the particulate filter, for example, doesn’t fit in this group).
The importance of car recycling in the circular economy
New vehicles’ production and purchase are reaching record levels worldwide. As a result, natural resources are becoming more and more scarce.
Car recycling already occupies part of the market, presenting an exciting solution to reduce the ecological footprint. In fact, the circular economy is starting to be the focus of manufacturers worldwide (not only vehicle ones) — who already sell second-hand items with warranties.
But back to the cars… Many still keep old vehicles in their garages without using them or giving them to scrapyards.
How car recycling works: learn the process
Do you want to recycle your vehicle but don’t know how? Then, you should contact a dedicated car recycling company.
Usually, these companies take care of the entire legal process, including the deregistration of your old vehicle. The amount you’ll pay is equivalent to what a scrapyard would pay for your car.
But this isn’t a quick process.
Recycling a car has different stages. For example, have you ever thought about how many components (in different sizes) a vehicle has inside and in the passenger compartment? We’ll save you the trouble of counting: a lot.
The good news is: you can recycle approximately 90% of your vehicle.
Reusing its parts will solve problems in other cars, especially for those who buy reused components — like the ones B-Parts sells. As for the remaining 10% of your vehicle… the destination is indeed a landfill.
Car recycling: step by step
There’s an organized process for recycling old cars, ensuring all possible parts are used. And these are the stages:
- Inspection of the vehicle: the car’s reviewed to understand its destination (repair or scrapping);
- Components’ disassembly: namely the electronic and engine parts, which will be reused to repair other components or sold;
- Liquids’ drainage: such as oils, lubricants, and antifreeze liquid;
- Materials separation: at this stage, a professional dismantles the recyclable parts — such as glass, plastics, and other small parts.
At the end of the process, very little is left — just the chassis, which is then crushed and compressed. Then, in the end, it’s placed in steel ovens for melting.
Why you should recycle an old car: the top 3 reasons
As we have already explained, recycling old cars benefits the planet’s sustainability. In fact, this is the most important reason when it comes to car recycling.
Another essential reason is car production itself, which continues to skyrocket. Recycling causes a significant reduction in the combustion cars’ production but an exponential increase in that of electric cars — accentuating its differences.
When specialized companies recycle cars, there’s no need to produce new ones since many of the parts and components are reused in other vehicles. But there are more reasons to consider.
1. Reduction of greenhouse gases
If the production of new parts decreases, since manufacturers don’t use as much raw material — choosing recycled materials instead — the emissions reduction of harmful gases to the planet accentuates.
2. Water and soil protection
Old cars tend to spill fluids, polluting the environment primarily through water and soil contamination. Their impact is so negative that vegetation may not grow on a given (contaminated) soil.
3. Reuse of car parts
Reusing car parts extends the life of the planet’s resources. Many used parts are still in perfect condition and don’t compromise recycled cars’ safety.
Still, don’t think that you can reuse all parts and components.
The parts that can (and cannot) be recycled
As you have already noticed, specialized companies can recycle 90% of your vehicle.
This group includes headlights, blinkers, car seats, exhaust system parts, various plastic car parts, mirrors, engines and components, transmission systems, windows and windshields, batteries, and filters.
But there’s more.
Can car tires be recycled?
Yes, tires can be recycled, so it is important to protect them throughout their life. However, once they have been recycled and reused, some people call them “as new” — and many workshops are selling them.
Recycled tires contribute to one of the asphalt’s constituents, playgrounds, and even synthetic football fields.
Are lithium car batteries recyclable?
These batteries, used in electric cars, can be recycled. The issue, in this case, is that the recycling process is much more expensive — meaning that it may be cheaper to buy a new battery.
Are car air filters recyclable?
No, that’s not advisable at all. Filters treat the air that flows between the components and gets near the engine, more specifically. These components shouldn’t be treated nor recycled at the risk of endangering a vehicle’s proper functioning.
Recycling a car protects the environment and your wallet
From old to new.
And there’s no shortage of parts for airbags, the electrics, the vehicle’s interior, the lighting, and even for the engine.
Used parts sales are a growing reality (as it happens with B-Parts, which has more than 7 million parts in stock). The warranty and return periods are similar since we guarantee 1 year and 14 days, respectively.
Think about the planet and choose recycled parts. Car recycling is here to stay. Your wallet will thank you, and so will the planet.
