The automotive recycling industry - with $25 billion in sales annually - is the 16th largest industry in the United
States and plays a necessary and crucial role in the efficient, ecological disposal of inoperable motor vehicles. Although sometimes known as auto salvage dealers, professional automotive recyclers deal strictly in the
recycling of motor vehicles - i.e., domestic and foreign automobi
les, light and heavy-duty trucks, buses and motorcycles. From the earliest days of motorized travel, automotive recyclers have
been leaders. These entrepreneurs developed a disassembly process
for salvaged automobiles in order to reclaim reusable parts and components,
and, thus, established an efficient automotive recycling system. For more
than 75 years, automotive recyclers have been providing local employment,
consumer service, and environmental conservation, worldwide. Automotive recycling serves a vital role in preserving natural resources and
reducing the demand for scarce landfill space. For example, the industry
recycles over 4 million motor vehicles annually (in the U.S. and Canada alone),
thereby saving an estimated 11 million gallons of oil that would otherwise be
used in the manufacture of new replacement parts. Additional energy and
resource conservation is realized by recycling rebuildable "core" parts to the
automotive parts rebuilding industry. In addition to conserving natural resources, automotive recycling plays an important role in reducing air and water
pollution, and solid waste generation. Automotive recyclers must abide by stringent local and national regulations on
dealing with waste generated by salvaged automobiles. Many individual automotive recyclers have also instituted
their own unique programs to further reduce the potential effects of harmful materials to their businesses and communities. Automotive recycling has evolved into a sophisticated market and technology-driven industry that constantly changes to
keep abreast of innovations in automotive technology and manufacturing techniques. Rather than merely crushing wrecked,
abandoned, and mechanically disabled motor vehicles, today's modern recycling facilities have a definitive operational
scheme that maximizes the vehicle's true market value, all the while providing an economic and environmental benefit to
the community. In a typical modern recycling business, inoperative motor vehicles are brought into a facility where the hazardous and
recyclable fluids are properly drained. Undamaged parts are then dismantled from the vehicle, cleaned, tested, inventoried,
and stored in a warehouse until sold. Automotive recyclers are a valuable source for economical and often hard to find used motor vehicle replacement parts. Professional auto recyclers use computer and satellite communication systems that enable for direct inventory assessment
as well as locate parts across town or across the continent, by simply entering the appropriate data into their computer system. This technology allows recyclers to maximize their inventories and provide quick and efficient service to their customers.
