Here at Take My Scrap Car, we usually focus on the car scrapping and recycling industry here in the United Kingdom. However, we also think it’s important to consider what’s happening on a global basis, just to get a feel for things on a broader scale.
So for this post, we thought we’d share a few fascinating facts and figures about the car scrapping and recycling industry on a global basis. If you thought what takes place in the UK was impressive, you might be surprised just what goes on worldwide:
- Reclaimed Oil
Remember all those years ago when 10.8 million gallons of oil were leaked into the sea by the Exxon Valdez? Well, each and every year, eight times this amount of oil and other vehicle fluids is safely reclaimed from scrap cars all over the world. That’s close to 100 million gallons of fluids, which without responsible scrapping and recycling processes would find their way into the world’s seas and waterways.
- Masses of Materials
As recycling processes become more sophisticated, it’s becoming possible to reclaim more materials from every scrap car than ever before. To such an extent that every year, the world now collectively recycles more than 25 million tons of materials from scrap cars alone. And it’s even estimated that should things be refined a little further, the global car manufacturing industry could technically become self-sustained within a matter of decades.
- A Familiar Face?
When you responsibly recycle a car, there is a pretty strong chance you will cross its path once again in the future. On average, somewhere in the region of 25% of the body of every new car is made of recycled metal. Which in turn means that next time you invest in a new car, there’s every chance you could in fact by driving one or two pieces of your old car.
- Power Play
Despite the fact that batteries are considered to be among the most hazardous of all standard vehicle components, there are also fully recyclable. In fact, an astonishing 99% of all car batteries can be reused or recycled. Which is why it is such a shame when you see so many simply going to waste, having been tossed on a pile and allowed to pose a serious health hazard to humans and animals alike.
- Humble Origins
Last but not least, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the contemporary global car industry has been around pretty much forever. In reality, rewind approximately 75 years and it didn’t even exist. Which when you think about it makes the progress that has been made to date even more remarkable. If things have come so far in just a few short decades, what will things look like 20 or even 50 years from now? Chances are, even the advanced recycling processes the world relies on today will come across as little more than primitive.
For more information or to discuss responsible car scrapping and recycling, get in touch with the Take My Scrap Car customer service team today.
