When Cars are Recycled
Cars should be recycled once out of commission. (Photo Credits)
Scrap or junk cars are a threat to the environment given its chemical waste, as well as the community hazard that it presents.
More and more junk car recycling centers have been put up and it is for a good reason. Whatever can be salvaged out of a junk car should be salvaged, and the rest that needs to be junked should indeed be disposed of properly.
In one of its web entries, WikiPedia detailed the many advantages of recycling scrap cars.
“Recycling steel saves energy and natural resources. The steel industry saves enough energy to power about 18 million households for a year, on a yearly basis. Recycling metal also uses about 74 percent less energy than making metal. Thus, recyclers of end-of-life vehicles save an estimated 85 million barrels of oil annually that would have been used in the manufacturing of other parts.[2] Likewise, car recycling keeps 11 million tons of steel and 800,000 non-ferrous metals out of landfills and back in consumer use.[4] Before the 2003 model year, some vehicles that were manufactured were found to contain mercury auto switches, historically used in convenience lighting and antilock braking systems. Recyclers remove and recycle this mercury before the vehicles are shredded to prevent it from escaping into the environment.”
Read the whole story here.
The dangers of improper disposal of old cars
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Service explained why cars need to be disposed of properly. It also further detailed why a junk car owner has to be discerning in choosing a scrap yard or junk car disposal service for the motor vehicle he is about to dispose.
“Motor vehicle salvage yards that follow good management practices can prevent contaminants from polluting our environment. Poorly managed motor vehicle salvage yards, on the other hand, may use sloppy practices that allow gasoline, mercury and other pollutants to enter nearby drinking water, or worse.”
Read the full article here.
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To further encourage car owners to properly dispose their junk vehicles, the website The Balance shared statistics and information on car recycling.
“Approximately 90 percent of aluminum of a vehicle is recovered and recycled. Although this aluminum recovered from old vehicle represents less than 10% the vehicle by weight, it accounts for nearly 50 percent vehicle’s scrap value. Automotive recycling industry supplies around 37 percent of all ferrous metal to blast furnaces and smelters across the United States of America. Approximately 98- 99 percent of car batteries can be recycled. But most car owners simply return their car battery to the shop from where they replace car battery. Car tire recycling is viable and material can be used to produce sandals and roadways.”
Read the rest of the statistics here.
Disposing of one’s vehicle should be done in the proper manner so as to avoid causing damage to the environment.