Motor Crazy - Tracking an Obsession With Motor Vehicles

What You Should Do If Your Car Finally Gives up the Ghost

12 September 2018

Johnny Richardson

Have you wrung every last ounce out of your trusty car? You may be somebody who likes to hang on to their possessions and doesn't see the need to upgrade just for the sake of it. If so, you may have several thousand kilometres on your vehicle's clock and understand that it is finally time to move on. However, you realise that you will not get any value on the second-hand market for this "banger" and will need to scrap it instead, but how do you go about this?

End of the Road

Every year, hundreds of thousands of vehicles like yours are classified as "end of life" and are driven off the road for the last time to be broken apart. Unfortunately, these vehicles are very difficult to process, simply because they have so many different parts made up of a variety of diverse materials. It's certainly possible to reclaim most of the metal that makes up the body and chassis, but more often than not much of the remainder will end up in a landfill.

Major Risk

Unfortunately, this waste can include many harmful components, fluid or gases, such as coolant, oil, lead, chromium or mercury and these can leach into the ground to cause significant risk. Quite apart from the environmental impact, some of these components could be recycled instead, and this waste will represent a major loss of resources.

Making a Difference

Thankfully, some engineers are making a difference around the world, and it is now possible to generate an energy stream from any residue that is put through a vehicle shredder. These companies are getting more efficient at separating plastics and other material and diverting them to other recycling plants, cutting down on pollution and helping the environment.

Focusing on Your Project

See what you can do to make a difference before you finally put your car to rest. Before you start, you should remove any valuable "aftermarket" parts that you purchased over the years, such as wheel rims or a stereo system. You should also get in touch with your local recycling depot to see what major parts they will take right now.

Doing Your Part

Until there is stricter government enforcement in Australia, try to make sure that you dispose of your "end of life" vehicle carefully. This will help you to do your bit for the environment and earn a little bit of cash as well.

For more information, contact your local auto parts recycler.

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