Are all Parts of my Car Recyclable?

Choosing to recycle your car if it gets damaged or is too old to be resold is critical; it significantly reduces the scrap metal that hits a landfill, and secondly, recycling steel metal is much cheaper and uses less energy than making it fresh. 

However, with over 30,000 different parts, car recycling takes a great deal of knowledge, expertise and time to ensure the safe disposal of materials and fluids which are not fit for recycling or resale. 

You can trust the team at Assington Autos to recycle your vehicle safely and efficiently. This is because we care a lot about the environment. We are registered with the Environment Agency, and our team strictly follows all the regulations on recycling vehicles.

So what car parts are recyclable?

1. Engine oil

Whilst you may consider engine oil unrecyclable, this is not the case. With special treatment, engine oil can be filtered, cleaned and reused. This process is critical as it prevents oil from contaminating soil and water sources. 

2. Scrap metal

Vehicles are made from various metals. Almost all non-ferrous and ferrous metals can be sold as scrap. These materials are then melted down and the material re-purposed. 

3. Car batteries

Car batteries contain toxic chemicals, harmful to the environment. Therefore, they must be recycled. Car batteries can be dissected into various parts, such as silver and lead, which can, in turn, be reused and recycled.

4. Windows

Windows and windscreens are not the easiest parts of a car to recycle as they are often fixed between a couple of layers of plastic. However, with recent advancements in vehicle design, window glass can be recycled to produce fibreglass insulation, glass bottles and a range of essential consumer goods.  

5. Car tyres

Burning used car tyres must be avoided at all costs; the process produces high levels of air pollution, which is incredibly bad for the environment. Instead, used car tyres can be recycled and turned into various things, including materials for road surfacing.

6. Plastic components

Vehicles contain various types of plastics that can be recycled after they are separated. Unfortunately, plastic is not biodegradable, so recycling the plastic components of vehicles is greatly important. 

7. Oil filters

The Environment Agency declares used oil filters as contaminated waste. So, there are strict regulations in place to control their disposal process. 

Both the steel and dirty oil components are recyclable. The oil can be turned into fuel or lubricants whilst the metal components can be recycled into appliances cans and even new cars.

8. Car engines

It may surprise you that car engines can be recycled even if they are severely damaged. If your engine is scrap, the raw materials and metals can be extracted and melted into new products. Engines in relatively good condition can be reconditioned, and if the engine is still working it can be sold.

9. Car mats and carpets

Car mats and carpets are highly recyclable. If they are in good condition, they can be passed onto another motorist or sold on websites like Gumtree. If the car mats are in bad condition, gardeners can use them to keep weeds at bay and insulate compost heaps. 

If you are looking to dispose of your car, contact Assington Autos here, and a member of the team will aim to contact you today.