As you may know, cars are made of many valuable materials that can easily be recycled at the end of the car’s life. Materials like glass, metal, and rubber from cars can be broken down and easily reused for products such as floor tile, shoes, and new cars. In fact, almost every new car contains about 30percent of recycled material from old vehicles.
Every year, about 12 million cars are sent to auto recycling yards, more commonly known as wreck-yards or salvage yards. This has contributed to the auto recycling industry becoming the top recycling industry in the world. In fact, car material reuse is the 16th-largest industry in the United States, overall.
To learn more about how you can contribute to saving the environment by recycling your old car while making some money, read our comprehensive guide.
Oil and oil filters (25 cents/litre)
Recycling your used motor oil might be the most environmentally beneficial thing you can do pertaining to your car. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that improperly disposed of oil from a single oil change can contaminate 1 million gallons of fresh water. Toxic oil is incredibly difficult to clean and will stick to nearly anything, including animals and plants.
The good news is that old motor oil can be reprocessed to become usable again. You can and should recycle your used oil filters. You may be able to find someone who will pay you for your used oil, but that is unlikely due to the cost it takes to refine old oil. When you obtain your used oil, be sure to use a container made of polyethylene, and don’t mix your oil with other fluids.
Car batteries
Car batteries contain plastics, acid and lead that all need to be either disposed of properly or recycled. Thankfully, 99 percent of old car batteries are recycled, making car batteries the single most commonly recycled item in the U.S. Most of them will be turned into new batteries, while their plastic and lead may also be used for other products.
Before you try to sell your used battery, be sure to check your state regulations on battery recycling before proceeding. Additionally, always take the necessary precautions for handling it. Use gloves to avoid touching any acid or lead and make sure not to store them in high temps or around open flames.
Tires ($10–$50 depending on the condition)
Tires are one of the most harmful sources of waste due to the high volume of production, their non-biodegradable nature, and their durability. This makes recycling old tires even more important. Recent technological advancements such as pyrolysis and devulcanization, along with government intervention have greatly increased the ability to recycle used tires.
There are three main markets for scrap and used tires. A lot of people purchase used tires to save a huge amount of money compared to brand new tires due to the markups. On a good day, you can find a decent set of four tires that would last you for a few years for less that $300.
Starters and alternators
Starters and alternators are part of the power supply chain in your car. They are both a great resource for scrap copper and steel, so salvage yards and other places will pay a decent price for them. Many times, these parts can be refurbished to be used again in other cars or they can be broken down for their materials.
Expect to get in the $5–$20 range for your starter and alternator. Considering that copper takes 200 to 500 years to decompose, selling your alternator and starter for a few extra bucks is a great way to earn some quick cash and help save the environment. If you’re handy enough, you may be able to rebuild your alternator yourself and keep it running for many more miles.
Scrap metal (about 20 cents per pound depending on the metals market)
Cars are full of scrap metal. From their engines and transmissions to doors, hoods, and more, these scrap metal parts can be recycled for cash payouts.
Cars are mostly made of iron, aluminum, and steel, all of which are valuable and recyclable. Aluminum is the least valuable of the three, but you can still get a decent return if you have enough of it. The more rewarding part about selling your aluminum to a place that will recycle it is that aluminum can be processed and made into another product within a few months. Recycling aluminum also saves 80 percent of the energy that was used to originally make it.
Steel and iron command a bit more at the recycling plant — each is worth around 25 cents per pound. As you can imagine, heavy chunks of metal on your vehicle can be worth a pretty penny.
Final words
At RN Scrap Junk Cars, we buy unwanted junk and scrap cars from Oshawa, Ajax, Toronto, Markham, Brampton, and the rest of the cities in the Greater Toronto area for the purpose of recycling. Our team recycles every part possible to help with saving the environment in a responsible manner. Call us today or request an offer for your junk car. We offer same day service, buy all makes and models, and we’re available for a same day service.
