Have you ever recycled your auto parts regularly? Good for you if you have. But don’t worry if you still haven’t tried doing this. Automotive stuff such as oil, filters, batteries, scrap metal, glass, and tires can be recycled by yourself so you don’t have to worry about the environment. The following tips will make sure you don’t have to throw the automotive stuff you have and of course, help save the environment.
Auto Oil
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The most recyclable stuff your vehicle has is the oil. According to most automotive standards, motor oils are good for three months’ use. Synthetic oil lasts a little longer but can be really expensive. If you regularly bring your vehicle to a service shop, chances are used oil is already being recycled. If not, you can bring your oil to a recycling center near you. Oil recycling refers to a wide term for different processes of repurposing used oil. Common methods of oil recycling include reconditioning on-site, petroleum refinery, burning for energy recovery, and refining into new lubricating oil. Reconditioning on-site uses a kind of filtering system in order to get rid of impurities where oil is used, therefore extends the oil’s life. Factories and large corporations make use of this process due to the large amount of waste oil they generate. Processing and burning oil for energy recovery involves the filtering of oil to remove water and other contaminants. Then the oil is burned either to act as heat source or power industrial operation. This is probably the least favoured recycling practice because once the oil is burnt, it can never be recycled again. Used oil can also be recycled by inserting it into a petroleum refinery to produce gasoline. By refining the used oil into a base stock for new lubricating oil, the refined oil is distilled, hydro-treated, and dewatered to purify it. This will produce a virtually virgin oil stock which should meet certain standards. Refining is probably the most useful process since the life of the oil is prolonged indefinitely.
Oil Filters
Once the oil completely drained from the reservoir or when used oil is removed, oil filters can then be recycled. Disposing used oil filters indiscriminately can be an environmental hazard. There are even places where disposal of used oil and oil filter in the garbage is illegal. Luckily, there are steps on how to safely dispose of oil filters when you don’t use them anymore. Use a drain pan to transfer the remaining oil from the filter. Make sure to clean any spills using a rag or any absorbent object. Then pour the used oil into a plastic container, preferably a zip-locked plastic. Bring the oil filter and used oil to the recycling center.
Car battery
It is equally important to recycle your car battery. How do you do this? Simply find a shop that takes in used battery. Make sure these shops are properly licensed by sanitation authorities. You cannot actually recycle a busted car battery at home because of the lead which is highly toxic if not properly disposed.
Car Tires
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Tires are also the most recycled part of a vehicle. Tires are not really biodegradable and can take up a lot of area when stocked in a certain land. You can use your car’s old tires to make beds for growing vegetables if you have that green hobby. Or you can just give them to a recycling center you know so they can use the old tires in one of their recycling projects.
Auto Glass
If you do not know of any recycling center that accepts automotive glass, you can just make use of old car glass (including side mirrors and windshield) as part of your home furniture. For instance, you can use them in floor tiles or counter tops. Some creative people even make use of car glass as a highlight in their jewellery craft. It might sound exaggerated but the earth’s survival may just depend on recycling. By recycling, you don’t just make use of old stuff but also contribute to nature’s health.
Metal Scraps
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Metals from cars are basically recyclable. There are even cases when some auto parts are widely used by various recycling organizations. Guidelines are required though. In the U.S., for example, metals to be recycled should weigh less than 300 pounds, completely clean, and free from fluids like oil and moist. Various scrap metal such as bezels, side mirrors, head lights, door handles are often recycled. You can bring large metal scraps like steel wheels, doors, radiators, fenders, etc. to the local salvage yard and might even get cash in exchange.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ4q7cVWlwY – Here’s another take at recycling scrap auto parts and transforming them into remarkable art work by metal artist Anthony Hansen, who lives in California.