Why Scraping Your Old Car Is Better for the Environment Than You Think

If you are not sure whether you should scrap your old car or restore it for what it is, then it’s more than just about freeing space in your garage. Responsibly disposing of your old car plays an important role in reducing carbon emissions, cutting waste, and preserving precious resources.

In Australia, the environmental stakes are high as more than 850,000 vehicles reach the point where they turn into scrap metal. In other words, more than close to a million cars are not fit to run anymore every year.

So how can we effectively manage these vehicles?

In this blog, we are going to discuss how scrap car recycling works. We will also discuss some prominent car recycling benefits and why the environmental impact of old cars now matters more than ever. Once you are done reading this blog, you will realise why you should scrap your old car for good.

The Environmental Challenges of Older Cars

Emissions, Leaks, and Toxic Materials

Old and unused cars are often abandoned. As a result, they start leaking everywhere with engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, and other hazardous liquids. Now, if these fluids are not dealt with, they might seep into soil and waterways, which harms the ecosystem.

In addition, older vehicles are often running on outdated parts which have less combustion. Ultimately, these cars without any control on carbon emissions, add more to the air pollution. Since their active life reaches the end, they are still a liability to the local environment.

Wasted Materials and Landfill Burden

If the cars are discarded without proper dismantling, many valuable materials like steel, aluminium, rubber, plastics, and copper are wasted.

In Australia, the end-of-life vehicle (ELV) sector currently recovers around 70 % of the vehicle’s weight as recyclable materials. The remaining 30 % (known as shredder “fluff” or automotive shredder residue) often ends up in a landfill.

Moreover, in other Australian regions, more than 1.36 million tonnes of vehicle waste are generated annually, out of which 30% goes to landfill. This is a major negative environmental impact of old cars that often goes unrecognised.

What Happens When You Scrap Your Old Car? (The Car Scrapping Process)

Having an understanding of the auto dismantling process and the automotive recycling process supports the fact that scrapping old cars is important. But if you want to keep it environmentally friendly, you have to follow the actual process regarding it:

Step 1 – De-pollution and Hazardous Component Removal

In the first step, the vehicle is emptied of any fluids like fuel, engine oil, coolant, and brake fluids. Moreover, the components are also taken out, such as batteries, airbags, and mercury switches. Strict protocols are followed to avoid any contamination.

Step 2 – Dismantling & Reuse of Parts

Usable parts should be removed from the vehicle, such as engines, transmissions, alternators, panels, glass, and tyres. These parts are often cleaned and repaired for sale or replaced in similar models. This is all part of the sustainable car recycling model.

Step 3 – Shredding & Material Recovery

What remains of the car is crushed, shredded, and sorted. Magnets and eddy current separators extract ferrous and non-ferrous metals, which are then melted and reused. Other materials (plastics, rubber, glass) are separated and processed economically.

Step 4 – Disposal of Residuals

The residual waste (fluff or shredder residue) is sent to a landfill or processed further where possible. Efforts are underway in Australia to reduce this fraction via improved separation technologies.

Car Recycling Benefits: Why Scrap Your Old Car

1. Cuts Down on Raw Material Extraction

The recycled steel, aluminium, copper, plastics, and rubber from old scrapped cars reduce the need to mine new raw materials. For an idea, recycling one car in Australia can save ~1,134 kg of iron ore, 635 kg of coal, and 54 kg of limestone.

2. Energy Savings & Lower Emissions

Producing new metals and materials for cars requires a lot of energy. By recycling the steel alone from these scrapped cars, the energy consumption can be reduced by 58%.

In Australia, recycling compared to landfill in 2008–09 saved ~241 million GJ of energy, which can supply power for over 5 million homes. At the same time, GHG emissions avoided exceeded 15 million tonnes CO₂e.

3. Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By reducing the need for new material production and avoiding landfill decomposition, scrapping your old car can make a difference for the climate. As in Australia, the national GHG avoidance was equivalent to removing about 3 million vehicles from roads.

4. Mitigates Landfill Pressure & Pollution

Vehicle scrap processing diverts huge volumes from landfill. Back in 2008 and 2009, recycling helped to avoid 21.7 million tonnes of landfill waste in Australia. Saving the land from landfill waste helps prevent soil and groundwater contamination. These contaminations may include residual chemicals and materials that are severely harmful to the environment.

5. Supports a Circular Economy & Jobs

The automotive recycling process promotes the reuse, refurbishing, and recycling of materials. It also supports jobs in dismantling, logistics, materials processing, and resale sectors. Governments and industry in Australia are exploring product stewardship schemes to improve recovery rates and standardise best practices.

The State of Car Disposal & Recycling in Australia

How Many Cars Are Scrapped vs Wasted?

Every year, approximately 5% of the Australian vehicles reach the end of their life, or as we can say, they are not fit to run. As a result, it all converts to 1.36 million tonnes of waste.

The industry currently recovers about 70 % of that, with the remainder headed to landfill. Some states and recyclers strive for higher rates, but challenges remain, especially for non-metal materials (plastics, fabrics).

Barriers to Better Recycling in Australia

• The economics of recycling plastics, rubber, and composite materials are less favourable.
• Fragmented regulatory approach across states and territories.
• Leakage: cars or parts crossing state borders for deregistration or disposal.
• Low public awareness about eco-friendly car disposal.

But there is a catch. According to the study conducted by FCAI/MTAA, it is suggested to move towards a national co-regulatory stewardship scheme to uplift car disposal in Australia to global best practices. To remain compliant with the government regulations, here is your guide on how to Choose The Right Junk Car Removal Service For Your Needs.

Final Thoughts

When you decide to scrap your old car, you’re joining a solution that yields real environmental returns. The car scrapping process helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve raw materials, minimise landfill load, and support a circular economy.

With reliable service providers like Jimmy Cash for Cars, you can scrap your old car hassle-free. Offer competitive quotes, arrange pickup across Australia, and ensure your vehicle is scrapped safely and sustainably. By scrapping your old car, you actively support sustainable car recycling and the long-term health of Australia’s environment.