Cars and trucks contain thousands of pounds of high-quality steel, reusable parts, and potentially hazardous materials. Salvage yards keep these substances out of landfills and offer a wide range of environmental benefits. The following guide highlights a few of the ecological benefits of taking your old vehicle to a scrapyard.

How Do Salvage Yards Help the Environment?

1. Ensure Hazardous Fluids Are Disposed of Safely

Every car contains oil and other fluids that can contaminate the soil and eventually poison the water supply. Batteries also contain sulfuric acid, which can be extremely dangerous to the environment. Salvage yards have the expertise to safely drain the fluids and remove any parts that contain heavy metals or other potential contaminants.

2. Reduce the Need for Natural Resources

Almost all steel, aluminum, and other metals in a vehicle can be recycled. Even badly rusted metal can be melted down and reused, which reduces the need to produce new steel.

Recycling protects sensitive areas from the effects of mining and processing raw materials. It also eliminates the air and water pollution associated with new metal and other materials required to produce new materials.

3. Lower the Demand for Electricity

Recycling metal requires much less electricity than producing parts from new material. Salvage yards send thousands of pounds of steel, plastic, and alloys to recyclers every day, dramatically reducing demand for electricity, often produced by burning coal, natural gas, or other products that require drilling, mining, and processing.

4. Lessen Emissions

Every step of the manufacturing process creates emissions of gas that contribute to climate change. Mining, transporting ore, processing minerals, and manufacturing parts produce carbon dioxide, methane, and other emissions. However, transporting and melting down recycled metal produces significantly less greenhouse gas. Salvage yards help keep industries moving while minimizing the effects of climate change.

If you have unwanted vehicles anywhere in the Goshen, OH area, Phipps Auto Parts offers the best prices on the market. Since 1980, they’ve been one of the area’s most trusted salvage yards and pride themselves on delivering competitive prices and exceptional service. Visit the website to learn more about their recycling services, or call (513) 722-2034 to speak with a team member.