Different Car Parts That Can Be Recycled

by Kevin Smith Author

When it’s time to trade your junker in for something functional, you can buy a new (or new-to-you) car from a Chevy dealership in San Antonio, TX. But, what are you going to do with the old one? One option is to sell it to someone. Another is to bring it to companies that specialize in salvaging or reusing old parts. Read on to learn which components are recyclable.

Oil and Fuel

The first thing that recycling companies do to old cars is detaching their oil filters. They may still contain a significant amount of oil that can be reused for other vehicles. The fuel tank will also be drained. Recycling these liquids is highly encouraged because they're nonrenewable resources that pose a risk when improperly disposed of.

Batteries

Some states implement strict laws that ensure car batteries are recycled. Since they contain chemicals that are highly toxic to the environment, you can't simply throw them in trash bins. You can sell it back to the manufacturer and let them handle the recycling process. They'll collect the fluid and melt the plastic coating.

Tires

Most old tires end up in landfills. This has become a problem because they're made of rubber materials that are toxic when burned and don't decompose. But they can be recycled in many ways. For instance, they can be reprocessed to produce new tires or broken down into small pieces and added to asphalt tiles for road construction projects. Some companies also use them to make shoe soles.

Auto Glass

Intact fiberglass windshields and windows can be recut and used for new cars. Broken ones, however, are recycled to make new auto glass. The small shards can also be collected and reprocessed to make bottles.

Scrap Metal

Steel frames are typically sold and repurposed to make smaller automotive parts, like doors, hoods, or roofs. Undamaged copper from electrical cables can be reused many times over.

Some companies will buy the aluminum and lead alloys in engines and tire rims. There are also shops that collect the platinum material found in the catalytic converter. You can sell all of these at a high price.

These are just some examples of how old auto parts can be reused. Sell yours so you can use the earnings to buy a new car from a Chevy dealership in San Antonio, TX.