It’s no secret that there are numerous chemicals and compounds within our vehicles—chemicals that are crucial to the operation of everything from our AC to our engines. And while we’re motoring along on the road, we rarely give these chemicals any thought, however long after we abandon our cars in favor of auto wrecking in Victoria, BC, these chemicals can become a major concern.
Autos that aren’t properly disposed of by recyclers can subject the environment around them to substantial damage, caused by various chemicals leaking into soil, waterways and other ecosystems. Take a look at some of the chemicals that responsible auto recyclers are tasked with properly handling, in order to prevent environmental damage after you’re done with your vehicle:
Battery acid: Battery acid in the environment is a huge problem that can easily be taken care of with proper battery disposal. Batteries are removed from damaged autos so that over time, as weathering sets in, the acids aren’t able to escape due to rust and deterioration. Battery acids can wreck havoc on ecosystems: poisoning soil, killing plants and severely crippling local wildlife populations. Worse, if battery acid finds its way into local water sources, it can spread quickly, widening the spread of contamination to include surrounding areas and even people, if the water is potable.
Mercury: Mercury is used sparingly in vehicles, but if you know anything about this deadly chemical, you’ll know that all it takes is a little bit to cause major harm. Mercury can cause chemical imbalances in any organism that it comes into contact with and can be contributed to higher mortality rates in environments where it has been measured—animals consume plants and other animals that have been tainted with Mercury, which in turn spreads the damage quickly.
Freon and coolant: Coolants are used in large part to help keep us comfortable in our vehicles. The bad part of Freon and other coolants is that they’re odorless, colorless substances that can quickly seep into surrounding area ecosystems and cause harm to the environment. At even a small level of exposure, these chemicals can disorientate wildlife, kill off vegetation and taint soil levels irreparably.
Bromine: Used as a flame-retardant chemical on many upholsteries and plastics in vehicles, bromine can seep into the environment after extensive exposure to heat and UV rays. Those involved in responsible auto wrecking in Victoria, BC often remove and either destroy or part out components of a vehicle that may be prone to releasing Bromine, thus mitigating the potential for environmental damage.
Gasoline and oil: When a vehicle hits the junk yard, it’s frequently stripped of all petrol and oil as a safety measure, first and foremost. Removing these substances from a vehicle also ensures that they don’t end up leaking into the environment around them, which resolves issues of soil pollution.
These are just a few of the chemicals that a responsible auto recycler will be looking to alleviate from your vehicle when you turn it over for scrap—the list goes on and on. Before you surrender your vehicle to an auto wrecking service, make sure that you get the scoop on their sustainable plan, to give you peace of mind about the carbon footprint you’re leaving behind.