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Does Recycling Cars Really Help the Environment?

Does Recycling Cars Really Help the Environment?
You’ve probably heard a lot about how recycling’s good for the planet, but just how good is recycling junk cars for the environment? It’s actually better than you might think. Over 12 million cars are recycled annually in the United States alone, leading to 18 million tons of recycled steel. Using this recycled steel reduces air pollution by 86% over manufacturing new steel, and it also reduces water pollution by 76%.

Recycling auto parts and selling junk parts also means less mining, which means less damage and contamination to the surrounding ecosystem. Recycling fluids, like oil or transmission fluid, means that they aren’t being left on your property leaking into the ground and polluting groundwater. Auto repair shops recycle oil all the time since it can only get dirty and not degrade.

Car batteries can have their acid safely removed and essential metals extracted and recycled, which, again, reduces the damage caused by mining. Thanks to new technology, it’s also a lot easier to recycle old windshield glass into things like glass bottles and jewelry. All the plastic in your car can be recycled by reselling the junk parts if they’re in good shape or melting and shredding them down if they’re not.

Even more complicated auto parts, like engines, can be recycled. Engines are often dismantled, cleaned and reconditioned to be used in other cars. They can even be remanufactured into newer engines. Things like spark plugs and transmissions are also valuable to both auto manufacturers and auto repair mechanics.

If you want your car to be among the junk cars that help the environment, contact New York City Auto Salvage & Glass today. We can show you how everything from the tires to the windshield can be renewed.