Auto Recycling: Step by Step

When cars are given up after years of use, a lot of them end up at junkyards or dump sites, and perfectly good materials are wasted. At Logel’s, we see the value in reusing every part we can of a vehicle that is no longer in use. This blog will explain the step-by-step process of how we recycle, and how we can recycle and reuse 84% of an old vehicle.

Remove Fluids

The first thing we do in the auto recycling process is remove any fluids. This includes products like gasoline and coolant. Fluids are removed in a contained indoor facility so that they don’t leak into the ground or water system. The fluids are then disposed of appropriately. Some get picked up by specialty disposal companies, and some are reused.

Separate Parts

Our next step is to separate smaller parts of the vehicle. They are sorted by material (aluminum, copper, steel, and iron). When we find parts that are safe to be used, we add them into our computerized inventory.

Dispose Batteries

After all small pieces of material are removed, the battery is taken out. We follow government specifications for removing any hazardous waste, which includes batteries.

Remove “Core” Parts

Next we remove any core parts of the vehicle such as the alternator or starter. Any usable parts are entered into our inventory and sold to our customers. If they are unusable, they are sent to a “Core” company that will use casings or other components to re-manufacture new parts from the old ones.

Recycle Tires

Tires aren’t biodegradable and can’t always be re-used, and they contain materials that can be dangerous for the earth if they just sit in a landfill. All old tires that come through our facility are recycled through the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association tire program. Watch the lifecycle of a tire in this video!

As you can see, we reuse any part of the vehicle that we can. If you want to know more about details of the auto recycling process, feel free to give us a call! Our team would be happy to answer your questions.