Some people don’t know what to do with junk cars when they’re no longer needed. Abandoning them or letting them sit idle may seem like an easy solution, but it can come with negative consequences. Not only can these cars be an eyesore, but letting them decompose may pose environmental risks. Here’s why you should sell your old cars instead. 

How Do Sitting Junk Cars Harm the Environment?

Cars are made of durable materials that can take decades or even centuries to decompose. For example, engines may take up to 500 years to break down, which means your old car will take up space in a landfill well beyond your lifetime. Electronic wiring and fluids contain chemicals that can harm the environment. When the metal and plastic parts start to break down, these substances may leak into the ground or nearby water supplies and create pollution. 

Additionally, if you decide to drive a junk car, even infrequently, the emissions are likely to be more harmful than those from newer vehicles. Modern cars are made with strict emissions standards, and old vehicles are likely to have damage to parts like the catalytic converter, which limits the amount of harmful gasses released by the exhaust. 

What Can You Do?

Instead of keeping a junk car around or abandoning it, sell it to a scrap car pickup service. They can repair the vehicle’s parts and resell them to reduce the raw materials and energy needed to produce new parts. This also reduces the materials that end up in landfills. 

Even if the parts are not usable, a scrap car service can still remove them and recycle the materials. Substances like metal and rubber can be broken down and used when manufacturing new automotive materials. This can decrease the number of new materials needed for producing cars. 

If you’re looking for a scrap car service to take your vehicle, contact Atlanta’s Best Cash for Junk Cars Removal Service. Based in Carver Hills, GA, the service will come to your location and pick up your junk cars. They offer fast cash payment and dispose of car parts in environmentally friendly ways. Visit the website or call (678) 724-7691 to request a quote.