The Driving Woman

"I believe that automotive recycling is one of the greenest industries in the world," noted Sandy Blalock, president of the Automotive Recyclers Association tomorrow, at a recent IMPA (International Motor Press Association) meeting in Manhattan.

"Every minute 26 vehicles are recycled in the US," she said.

Actually, I never thought about recycling autos. Jeans, paper, trash-sure...but my big understanding of recycling cars was the junk yards that I've seen in multitudes of scary movies. The dog snarling at the gate, the toothless guy that lives in a hut...you know what I'm talking about.
 
But this is 2008 after all. The auto salvage business that started over 75 years ago, has gotten way a lot more sophisticated. And more ecological.

In a typical recycling plant, inoperative motor vehicles are brought into a facility where the hazardous and recyclable fluids are properly drained. Undamaged parts are then disassembled and cleaned, tested and inventoried for storage until sold. The remaining vehicle hulk is then prepared for scrapping.

Something I never considered is the fact that automotive recycling helps to preserve natural resources and reduce the demand for scarce landfill space. For example, the industry recycles over 4 million motor vehicles annually (in the U.S. and Canada alone), saving an estimated 11 million gallons of oil that would otherwise be used to manufacture new replacement parts.

Some other interesting data:

Recycling vehicles provides enough steel to produce almost 13 million new vehicles.

Automotive recyclers provide wholesale and retail customers quality parts that sell for up to 50% less than the comparable new parts.

Automotive recycling keeps highways and roads clear of abandoned and disabled vehicles by providing a place to deposit them.


And forget that scary movie stuff. Automotive recycling has evolved into an advanced technology-driven industry. Professional recyclers use computer and satellite communication systems for fast inventory assessment and to locate parts across town or across the continent.