From the earliest days of motorized travel, automotive recyclers
have
been leaders. These entrepreneurs developed a disassembly process
for salvaged automobiles in order to reclaim reusable parts and components,
and, thus, established an efficient automotive recycling system. For more
than 75 years, automotive
recyclers
have been providing local employment,
consumer service, and environmental conservation, worldwide.
Automotive recycling serves a vital role in preserving natural resources and
reducing the demand for scarce landfill space. For example, the industry
recycles over 4 million motor vehicles annually (in the U.S. and Canada alone),
thereby saving an estimated 11 million gallons of oil that would otherwise be
used in the manufacture of new replacement parts. Additional energy and
resource conservation is realized by recycling rebuildable "core" parts to the
automotive parts rebuilding industry.
In addition to conserving natural resources, automotive recycling plays an
important role in reducing air and water
pollution,
and solid waste generation. Automotive recyclers must abide by stringent local
and national regulations on
dealing with
waste generated by salvaged automobiles. Many individual automotive recyclers
have also instituted
their own unique
programs to further reduce the potential effects of harmful materials to their
businesses and communities.
Automotive recycling has evolved into a sophisticated market and
technology-driven industry that constantly changes to
keep abreast of innovations in automotive technology and manufacturing
techniques. Rather than merely crushing wrecked,
abandoned, and mechanically disabled motor vehicles, today's modern recycling
facilities have a definitive operational
scheme that maximizes the vehicle's true market value, all the while providing
an economic and environmental benefit to
the community.
In a typical modern recycling business, inoperative motor vehicles are
brought into a facility where the hazardous and
recyclable fluids are properly drained. Undamaged parts are then dismantled from
the vehicle, cleaned, tested, inventoried,
and stored in a warehouse until sold. The remaining vehicle hulk is then
prepared for scrapping.
Automotive recyclers are a valuable source for economical and often hard to find
used motor vehicle replacement parts.
Professional auto recyclers use computer and satellite communication systems
that enable for direct inventory assessment
as well as locate parts across town or across the continent, by simply entering
the appropriate data into their computer system.
This technology allows recyclers to maximize their inventories and provide quick
and efficient service to their customers.
