Automotive Recycling Tips in 2022

Did you know that it's possible to recycle nearly 80% of each car? In fact, the automotive recycling industry in the US and Canada provides enough steel for 13 million new vehicles per year!

Sure, the automotive industry needs to become more sustainable to rely less on fossil fuels. But once a car reaches the end of its lifespan, the recycling process is pretty top-notch.

One excellent example is how dismantlers reuse and recycle catalytic converters. Keep reading to learn more about this process and more.

Recyclable Car Parts 

When a vehicle reaches the junkyard, it's important to know which parts to recycle and where to recycle them. Recyclable car parts include:

• Batteries
• Carpet
• Catalytic converter
• Engine
• Engine oil and oil filters
• Scrap metal
• Scrap plastic
• Starters and alternators
• Tires
• Windows and windshields

Different specialty recyclers can recycle various car components. 

When you take apart the car yourself and separate all the components, you will often receive more money. This is because the core buyer doesn't have to do as much work when receiving the auto parts individually. 

Plus, many local governments offer a tax credit or deduction for recycling these items.

Can You Reuse a Catalytic Converter?

In some cases, yes! The lifespan of a catalytic converter should be the same as the car. But, if a vehicle has a problem that makes it inoperable and the catalytic converter is still in good condition, it can definitely find a new home in another car. 

Cars with their original catalytic converter may return higher profits when sold on the resale market than a scrap catalytic converter. It's always best to check the condition of the catalytic converter before taking it to a specialty recycling center. 

Why Recycle Catalytic Converters?

If you cannot resell the catalytic converter in its current condition, the next best thing to do is recycle it. 

Catalytic converters are valuable because they contain expensive precious metals in them. These include:

• Rhodium
• Palladium
• Platinum

Experts call these platinum group metals (PGM). There are common metals for jewelry, electronics, and other industrial products. Catalytic converter recycling professionals have the tools for catalyst recycling to extract these metals. 

This is excellent for the Earth since fewer metals are mined from the ground. Mining has severe negative impacts on the environment. It contaminates the soil, groundwater, and food supplies.

Plus, it takes tons of energy to dig up these metals. Not to mention, minors around the world are usually paid terrible incomes. Their workplaces are incredibly hazardous.

Anytime we can recycle precious metals is a win for everyone.

Further, catalytic converters are difficult to remove, but extracting these metals is even more challenging. Therefore, particular recyclers scrap catalytic converters by carefully removing all the metals for repurposing. 

Please do not attempt to remove the catalytic converter or dismantle it without proper training. When in doubt, find a catalytic converter recycler to assist you. 

Tips To Find a Reliable Catalytic Converter Recycler 

You shouldn't trust just anyone to recycle your catalytic converters. When working with precious metals and toxic materials, finding licensed recyclers is essential to help you. 

The government heavily regulates these industries because of their destruction of the environment. To prevent further crises, you should look for a reliable recycler. 

ISRI Member

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) is a national organization that promotes safe, economically sustainable, and environmentally responsible recycling. Working with a recycler who is an ISRI member shows their commitment to the safe recycling of scrap materials. 

It also proves their dedication to safe work practices and compliance with federal regulations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets rules for businesses to ensure worker safety. 

ISRI membership shows dedication to following OSHA standards too.

Oregon Senate Bill 803

While it's important for recyclers to follow federal regulations, it's also important to follow state and local laws. These laws lay out more in-depth requirements for recycling companies.

For example, at G&D Cats, we follow Oregon Senate Bill 803, which passed in the summer of 2021. 

Our business is authorized to accept catalytic converters for recycling and disposing of the units.

If you aren't located in Oregon, that's okay! We also follow and are in compliance with other states' regulations. We can accept catalytic converters from across the country. 

Additional Services

Finding a reliable partner isn't just about finding a law-abiding business. It's also about looking at what services they provide. For example, some catalytic converter recyclers can handle large loads, which is excellent for big junkyards and dismantlers. 

Look for options to get your materials assayed. With a whole load of catalytic converters, you can have them sampled and assayed to determine how many PGMs there are in the entire lot. This is a hassle-free way to recycle many catalytic converters at once.

At G&D Cats, we will even come to pick up the load for you at no additional cost! For smaller loads, you can send a photo of the catalytic converter(s) to us, and we will give you a price the same day. 

We truly make the process easy for you to recycle and claim money on your precious metals. Again, if you're outside the Oregon area, make sure you look for a recycler with stellar services. 

This ensures you get the best price for your scrap catalytic converters for minimal work. 

Automotive Recycling Explained: Catalytic Converters

Automotive recycling is a massive industry that will only continue to grow. These were just a few tips on reusing and recycling catalytic converters.

If you're interested in learning more about catalytic converter recycling, or you have a load to recycle, send us a message at G&D Cats. We offer the best market price for catalytic converters because of our industry insider knowledge.