Having your beloved car turn old is definitely painful. But what’s, even more, is that Reuse and Recycle may become painful because their performance degrades and demands a huge amount of money for the repair and replacement of auto parts.
You might still want to keep it in a backyard or garage. But in doing so, it not only takes up space but also makes your place look awful. And with time, it starts collecting dust and rust. So letting it go for Reuse and Recycle can only be the wise option in this scenario.
But have you ever wondered what exactly happens to your end-of-life vehicle? After reaching a scrapyard or junkyard, it is examined carefully to see if repairing and reselling are possible. If not, it is then passed on to a car recycling facility.
Here the car is dismantled and metal parts are recycled and reused if possible. This whole Reuse and Recycle process is quite crucial for environmental sustainability and is followed worldwide as a strict policy.
Here are some common auto components that can be Reuse and Recycle:
Oil Filters
Oil filters can be reused and recycled as soon as they have been fully deprived of the oil contained in the tank. A large amount of oil is still found in most of the used oil filters, which means that they are toxic waste that needs to be recycled.
The fact that both steel and oil are non-renewable resources should become known to people who dump these pieces into the garbage. It is easy to turn the oil obtained from recycled and reused filters into the brand-new motor oil, thus reducing existing emissions.
Batteries
Vehicle batteries are made up of lead which is a highly toxic substance. This hazardous material can degrade the environment in many ways without proper recycling. The entire process of recycling car batteries is also extremely easy.
Because of the presence of acids, you can Reuse and Recycle car batteries in special facilities which can be harmful if not properly disposed of. First, the lead is separated from the plastic case and fed into a furnace to be melted down.
Then the lead is reused for the manufacturing of brand-new batteries. The plastic casing is also cleaned out. Finally, the acid is treated and neutralized.
Tires And Wheels
Burning is the most widely recognized way old tires are dealt with. But this is poisonous to the climate and the majority of the cutting-edge car recyclers don’t follow this conventional strategy. A brilliant Reuse and Recycle method to manage old tires is to reuse them in inswings, targets, art, or even planters.
Vehicle tires contain rubber fiber and metal. When an old tire arrives at a recycling facility, it is transformed into Tyre Derived Fuel. The shredded tire is passed through magnets and screens which isolate the fiber from the metal.
Rubber fiber can be melted down and reformed into caster wheels, lawnmower wheels, or recycled into rubber bands, automotive belts, or asphalt ingredients. It can also be converted into fine granules and reused below artificial turf or playgrounds.
Wheels, on the other hand, are pure metal and are melted down and reformed into new shapes.
Metal
Around 80% of the total mass of your vehicle is metal. The metal on an end-of-life vehicle is just as important as any other piece of metal. Metal from wheels, axles, engines, handles, hoods, and other parts can be sold to scrap metal companies, who will melt it down so it can be reused.
Scrapyards make sure that every rusted metal piece on your vehicle is recycled and reused so that it doesn’t end up in a landfill. Metals like steel, aluminum, and iron are the most recycled metal from a vehicle.
Auto Glass
Glass from windscreens and windows can be Reused and Recycled to produce glass bottles, fiberglass insulation, and other important everyday products. Auto recyclers can even Reuse and Recycle these items in another vehicle.
After the glass is recovered from an old vehicle, it is crushed in grinders and then processed to obtain a glass cullet that can be used in concrete, fiberglass insulation, asphalt, etc.
Car radiators
Traditionally car radiators were mostly comprised of copper or brass but modern radiators consist of 56% – 44% of aluminum. Copper or brass, aluminum, and plastic are what makeup today’s radiators.
Like any other Reuse and Recycle metals from the car, radiator metal can be scrapped, melted down, and reformed to new shapes. The total price for your scrap radiator will depend upon the type of metal used and the current price of that metal in your area.
Car Fluids
Gasoline, engine oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant are the major fluids present in your car. These fluids are hazardous to the environment and flammable as well. So they have to be removed before dismantling the vehicle.
Car parts stores, dealerships and chemical companies, or hazardous waste facilities will accept these fluids and process them for reusability. Fluids like engine oil just get dirty over time and can be cleaned for reuse.
Disposing of such fluids on soil, groundwater, rivers, and natural ecosystems can have deadly impacts.
Why should auto recycling be prioritized: benefits of auto recycling?
The main plus point of Reusing and Recycling is that it helps in the conservation of natural resources and energy. Recycling ensures that old metal parts are reused and the manufacturing process is reduced, which directly helps to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the environment.
Materials used to manufacture vehicles, such as plastic, can be very toxic to the planet as they take forever to decay and also need energy for production. By recycling them we make sure that there is no undegradable material in landfills and energy is saved in manufacturing.
Recycling your old car can help you make space in your garage, driveway, or parking spot. You don’t want your end-of-life vehicle taking up the space of your new car or other important things. Vehicle recycling promotes the Reuse and Recycle vehicle parts.
Since some parts inside of a scrap car can still be functional, reusing it can help reduce the manufacturing process. Parts like car batteries, glass parts, radiators, etc can be made as good as new ones after some small touchups.
During recycling, all of the fluids from the junked vehicles are properly disposed of instead of oozing into the ground and ultimately affecting groundwater and the surrounding population. These fluids include oil, gasoline, anti-freeze, and even mercury.
Car recycling ensures that these fluids are properly removed, stored, and treated in order to eliminate the chance of environmental contamination. So, you must prefer Reuse and Recycle principles instead of manufacturing new ones.
