The Extra Costs To The BreakerYard

When we sell an old car to be scrapped there is an assumption, that all parts and scrap metal have a positive value, but in reality there are items that will occur a cost to dispose of.

Car Batteries

If in good condition some can be resold, after being tested, especially from cashed vehicles. But in reality most old vehicles have stood a while before the decision to scrap has been made and so these batteries need to be disposed of in a legal and responsible way. The chemicals within are not safe just to be thrown in the bin or down the sink, so many breaker yards will have tanks for the acids and will have to pay to have them emptied correctly. Others may take batteries to a facility that can handle this for them, again at a cost. It is expensive to deliver batteries like this and only certain transport operations will entertain.

Windscreens and Other Glass

There is a chance that door windows can have a resale value and will appear on other cars, that maybe have been broken into as an example. But these quantities have been reduced on modern cars, due to registration numbers being etched into all glass, with windscreens not needing to be fitted and sealed. It is also expensive to deliver glass safely, so it is unlikely that online sale will be accepted for these items. Just like a bottle bank in your local supermarket, glass can be recycled with certain bins within the yard. Again there could a cost to have these bin transported to the correct facility.

Trim and Plastic

Much of the plastic in a modern cars can be recycled, and is normally good for resale providing there is a demand. But when scratched or faded there is no value and so need to be disposed of using similar plastic bins you would see in a supermarket, albeit larger in size. Again there is a cost to have these emptied or collected.

Liquid Chemicals, Brake Clutch Fluid

These are corrosive chemicals and need to siphoned from all vehicles in special containers and then collected to be taken to the correct licensed facility. Brake fluid and Clutch fluid are the main culprits. Again this can be costly to the business.

Engine and Gearbox Oil

A similar process to garages that perform servicing is required to dispose of oils within a car, from the engine and gearbox. First they need to be drained and then stored in large drums with are collected or delivered to the facility to be treated.

When businesses off money for any old vehicle they have to consider these extra costs to themselves and have a legal responsibility to ensure all parts of all cars are disposed of in the correct and legal maner.