Are YOU recycling well enough?
About Me
Are YOU recycling well enough?

We all know by now that we should be recycling as much as possible--but are we using that principle to its full potential? As a lifelong green campaigner and environmental activist I'm passionate about recycling, and I've started this blog to talk a little more about all the little extras you can do. I'll be covering craft projects you can do with the kids, tips for starting and maintaining your own compost pile, ways to help your local recycling plant out with the way you put your rubbish in the recycling bin and tips for "upcycling" some of the things you throw away the most.

Categories

Are YOU recycling well enough?

Recycling Old Cars

Katie Welch

If your old car has finally reached its breaking point, you might be wondering what the best way is to dispose of the car body once your car has reached the end of its natural life. You want to make sure that you dispose of the car in a sensible way that minimises the cost associated with the disposal. 

Do not dump the car

It's important to keep the car in an area that you are responsible for, as if the car is dumped in a public space or in a space that is associated with another home or business, you will be responsible for the costs associated with the disposal of the car. While many car dumpers simply remove the license plates, cars can also be traced by the VIN number, which is deeply engraved in the engine block and in the door. The fines on dumped cars can be very expensive, so be sure to keep the car somewhere where it cannot be considered as dumping (such as on your property) until you are ready to dispose of the car legally. 

Call a scrap metal recycler

Many scrap metal recyclers are more than happy to pick up a car, as there is significant scrap metal value in most cars. Be sure to let the recycler know if the car is drivable, even for short distances, as this will affect how much they need to pay for the pickup, and as a result will affect how much they will offer for the car. Cars that cannot be driven need to picked up by a tow truck, and this cost will be taken out of any payment for the car body.

Get in quickly

The longer a car stays stationary, the harder it is to restart it, and the more likely it is that the metal in the car, including both the metal in the body of the car and copper in the wiring, can start to degrade, especially if the car is left in the open. If you do have a car that you are planning to dispose of, it is a good idea to call as quickly as possible and organise removal to maximise the price that you will receive for the car. 

If you have an old or hard-to-sell car, it can be worth calling a scrap metal recycler to see if you can get your car recycled and get some money for your old car. 


Share