Auto recycling statistics are often discussed in terms of the impact that traditional auto recycling businesses have on the reuse of metal and other materials that come from end-of-life vehicles. However, there is another class of businesses that contribute to recycling a vehicle: professionally operated junkyards that sell used auto parts from vehicles that are considered junk cars. Below is a step-by-step overview of how these junkyards contribute to auto recycling.
Purchase End-of-Life Vehicles
Junkyards purchase various types of vehicles that have reached the end of their lifespan for one reason or another, such as wrecked cars, lemon cars, and old vehicles that have mechanical problems that would cost more to repair than the car is worth on the fair market. In addition to purchasing junk vehicles for competitive prices, junkyards also accept donated cars.
Tow Away Vehicles for Free
Most junkyards that are dedicated to acquiring a
steady stream of used vehicles make the process as easy as possible for the
seller. In addition to paying the seller a competitive price, they offer
free towing services, which consist of a tow truck arriving at the seller’s
location to load the vehicle on the towing mechanism and transporting it to
the junkyard’s vehicle lot.
Sell Reusable Automotive Parts
Selling reusable car parts isn’t a traditional
aspect of recycling a
vehicle, but it has a place in the
auto recycling process. By buying pre-owned parts, drivers do more than
acquire components for an excellent price. They also help keep parts from
entering landfills and help reduce the need to produce new parts, which
helps limit emissions that come from the production process.
Send Scrap Metal to Recyclers
After an end-of-life vehicle has been practically stripped clean of reusable parts, junkyards sell the leftover scrap metal from the automobile to auto recyclers. Some recycling businesses only acquire car frames that consist of pure metal, while others acquire car frames that contain non-metal materials, and strip the frames of these materials at the auto recycling location.
Send Other Parts to Recyclers
If a junkyard that participates in recycling
needs to strip car frames of non-metal materials before forwarding the
frames to an auto recycler, it often sends the removed material to niche
recyclers, such as ones that reprocess old tires, vehicle upholstery,
plastic, and glass. The goal is to recycle as much of the automobile as
possible, starting with selling pre-owned parts.
Interested in Recycling a Vehicle?
If so, you have an alternative to sending the car
to a recycler: You could sell or donate it to a junkyard that participates
in auto recycling. Wrench-A-Part is this type of junkyard. In addition to
supporting auto recycling by selling quality, used auto parts, we also send
leftover scrap metal and other materials to recyclers. To receive a free
estimate of how much your end-of-life vehicle is worth as a junk car, call
one of our locations in Austin, Belton, Holland, or Lubbock today!
