{"id":671,"date":"2026-01-17T09:26:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T09:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/?p=671"},"modified":"2026-01-21T03:00:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T03:00:42","slug":"automotive-recycling-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/automotive-recycling-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Automotive Recycling Statistics and Trends [2026 Update]"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"671\" class=\"elementor elementor-671\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f5b36a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2f5b36a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2d1d870\" data-id=\"2d1d870\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed768c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ed768c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we talk about recycling, the conversation often steers toward plastics. But you might be surprised to know that automobiles are actually the <\/span><b>most recycled consumer products worldwide<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> [6]. Historically, end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) found their way to the junkyard, and whatever wasn\u2019t salvaged stayed put or went to landfills [9]. Now we know that whether salvaging parts for reuse or making new materials out of scraps, there is much to be gained from automotive recycling.\u00a0<\/span>So much so that about 95% of all ELVs are recycled in the U.S. alone [13].<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automotive recyclers play a vital role when it comes to both the environment as well as the vehicle repair industry. First, through recycled auto parts, consumers are given a more affordable option than new replacement parts [1]. Further, at times, recycled auto parts are the only options available, especially when it comes to older cars for which new parts are no longer made [1]. Second, automotive recycling conserves natural resources and reduces air and water pollution, all while keeping reusable materials out of landfills [1].<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But just how many cars are recycled each year, and what is the impact this has on the environment? Continue reading to find out more.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e40f08 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5e40f08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/automotive-recycling-statistics.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-674\" alt=\"Automotive Recycling Statistics\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/automotive-recycling-statistics.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/automotive-recycling-statistics-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/automotive-recycling-statistics-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3c8586 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c3c8586\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Key  Insights<\/b><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e2e1dc9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e2e1dc9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5dcb9bc\" data-id=\"5dcb9bc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b99b0c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b99b0c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cars are the most recycled consumer products worldwide [6]<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>95%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of ELVs are recycled in the U.S. each year [13]<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>86%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of a vehicle\u2019s materials can be recycled in some fashion [1]<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On average, about <\/span><b>12 million<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cars are recycled each year in the U.S. [7]<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Globally, about <\/span><b>27 million<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cars are recycled each year [4]<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The automotive recycling industry is 16th-largest in the U.S. employing more than <\/span><b>140,000 workers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and generating about <\/span><b>$25 billion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> per year [5]<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><b style=\"background-color: transparent;\">25%<\/b><span style=\"background-color: transparent;\"> of a car\u2019s body is made using recycled steel [7]<\/span><br><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The automotive industry in the U.S. and Canada provides about <\/span><b>14 million<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tons of steel [7]<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About <\/span><b>5-10 gallons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of liquids (oil, coolant, and windshield washer fluid) are salvaged from each recycled car [9]<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The automotive recycling industry saves close to <\/span><b>85 million barrels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of oil in the production of new vehicle parts [5]<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\" style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Laminated glass in the vehicles are mostly not recyclable and end up straight in landfill.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\" style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Catalytic converter is the most priced piece when recycling a vehicle. Price can range from <b>$800 to $1,200<\/b> for the part alone.<\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By recycling metals, the automotive recycling industry reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to <\/span><b>30 million metric<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tons each year [14]<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In U.S., nearly <\/span><b>3 million tons<\/b> of auto shredder residue (leftover from junked vehicle) ends up in landfill every year.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li style=\"\" aria-level=\"1\">The nationwide average of a scrap vehicle is $646 and junkyards usually enjoy a hefty margin of 50 to 70%. Clearly,&nbsp;one man&#8217;s trash is another man&#8217;s treasure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eea68d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"eea68d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cars-are-most-recycled-consumer-products-and-highly-recyclable.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1042\" alt=\"cars are most recycled consumer products and highly recyclable\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cars-are-most-recycled-consumer-products-and-highly-recyclable.png 2500w, https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cars-are-most-recycled-consumer-products-and-highly-recyclable-300x120.png 300w, https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cars-are-most-recycled-consumer-products-and-highly-recyclable-1024x410.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cars-are-most-recycled-consumer-products-and-highly-recyclable-768x307.png 768w, https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cars-are-most-recycled-consumer-products-and-highly-recyclable-1536x614.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cars-are-most-recycled-consumer-products-and-highly-recyclable-2048x819.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b763fe4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b763fe4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A brief description of the automotive recycling industry\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cdf9ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4cdf9ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally speaking, automotive recycling refers to the environmentally responsible dismantling of an ELV to salvage reusable parts, reprocess scrap materials, and safely dispose of unusable <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">parts [14]. Most cars still have value at the end of their lives, whether they\u2019ve been retired due to age or involved in a crash, as their spare parts and more can be salvaged and later reused [5].<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employing more than <\/span><b>140,000 workers <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in over <\/span><b>9,000 locations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> nationwide, the automotive recycling industry generates about $25 billion per year [5]. Comparatively speaking, the global automotive recycling market size hit $72.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $160.2 billion by 2028, growing about 15.19% from 2023-2028 [2].<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0bdcd49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0bdcd49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How are vehicles recycled?\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f643f9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f643f9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The process of recycling a vehicle involves depollution by first removing all fluids from the car [14]. Next, the vehicle is dismantled, and all usable parts are removed for resale, many of which can be directly reused without first needing to be melted down or recast [14].\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following this comes deconstruction, where scrap materials such as steel and aluminum are sourced, and finally, reusable metals are processed and separated from any materials which cannot be reused [14].<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f1210f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4f1210f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How many cars are recycled?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98741f2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98741f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the U.S., about <\/span><b>12 million cars<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are recycled each year, on average [7]. That\u2019s about 26 cars being recycled every minute [9]. For comparison, about <\/span><b>8 million cars<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are recycled in Europe each year [7]. Globally, about 27 million cars are recycled each year [4]. In looking at these numbers, it makes sense that cars are the most recycled consumer product worldwide. And as more countries push for sustainable practices and ramp up their automotive recycling efforts, these numbers will continue to rise.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, India recently pushed for manufacturers to recycle ELVs in an effort to rid the country of millions of old cars no longer in working condition [4]. This, the government hopes, will lead to more regulation across the automotive recycling industry [4].<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac93b44 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac93b44\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>How much of each car can be recycled?<\/b><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9032009 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9032009\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, not every inch of these cars is recyclable, which largely depends on the age and specific make of the vehicle [5]. This is because today\u2019s cars are made using less ferrous metals, or metals containing iron, than they were in the past and now use more plastics, which tend to be lighter and more fuel efficient [5].<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, the vast majority of each car is able to be recycled. In fact, around 86% of a vehicle\u2019s materials can be recycled in some fashion [1, 14]. What can\u2019t be recycled\u2014often made up of various metals, glass, fabric, paper, wood, rubber, and plastic\u2014is labeled auto shredder residue (ASR) and ends up in landfills [7]. About 5 million tons of ASR is disposed of in landfills each year [7]. By contrast, about 75% of cars in Europe are recycled, with a new target of 95% recyclability [7].<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-802ee4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"802ee4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>What parts of a car can be recycled?<\/b><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba1e27d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba1e27d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effectively every piece of material which is both easy to remove from the car and can get a second life is salvaged [9]. Even the lead and acid found in car batteries can be extracted and recycled to make new batteries, glass products, and textiles [9].<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below are parts which can typically be reused or recycled [5, 9]:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lead-acid batteries<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tires<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fenders<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engine parts<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transmissions<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fuel<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoods<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bumpers<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wiper fluid<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engine coolant<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some computerized parts<\/span><\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><div>Material that cannot be reused can still be used to create other items such as roofing, lighting, asphalt, and turf [5].<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18f5663 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"18f5663\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Steel: a sought-after material<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While many components of a car\u2019s makeup are salvageable, steel is certainly one of the most sought-after materials for its usefulness and versatility [8]. About 54% of the average vehicle is made of steel, and recycled steel is known to perform like-new, so it\u2019s a no-brainer that steel is a car\u2019s main recyclable material [8, 9]. In fact, an estimated 25% of a car\u2019s body is made using recycled steel [7].<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thankfully, the U.S. and Canada\u2019s automotive recycling industries provide <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a lot <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of steel\u2014more than 14 million tons worth [7]. That\u2019s enough steel to produce about 13 million new vehicles [7]!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, manufacturing recycled steel is more sustainable than producing new steel [9]. Specifically, recycled steel reduces air pollution by 86% and water pollution by 76% [9].<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Tires and oil: other important recyclable materials<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it isn\u2019t just recycled steel which has an environmental impact. Recycled tires and even oil have wide-reaching environmental benefits. For starters, tens of millions of&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/tire-waste-recycling-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\">tires are recycled<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;from ELVs to create a number of different items, such as mulch, playground surfaces and running tracks [9].<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regarding liquids, the auto recycling industry is able to save millions of gallons of oil from ELVs. In fact, an estimated 5-10 gallons of liquids\u2014namely oil, coolant, and windshield washer fluid\u2014can be salvaged per car [9]. The importance of salvaging these liquids from ELVs goes further than their re-use. Left unattended, an ELV will eventually leak fluids onto the ground, leading to water pollution [9].<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>How is oil recycled?<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, if you find yourself wondering how oil can be recycled, it\u2019s important to note that used petroleum-based or synthetic oil doesn\u2019t deteriorate. With time, however, impurities (dirt, chemicals, water, metal scrapings) find their way into the oil, impacting its performance [10]. Therefore, the oil simply needs to be either re-refined or replaced, saving a valuable resource [10].<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Auto repair shops and local waste collection agencies can refer you to the best options for recycling these oils, as improper disposal poses dire consequences to the environment. The used oil from just one oil change has the potential to contaminate 1 million gallons of freshwater [10]. That\u2019s a year\u2019s supply for almost 16 average American families [10].<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-561efa8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"561efa8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Environmental impact<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70c0a66 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"70c0a66\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to reducing water pollution, automotive recycling also reduces air pollution, decreases the demand for landfill space, lowers solid waste generation, and conserves natural resources. By recycling metals, the automotive recycling industry reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 million metric tons each year [14].<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s estimated that the automotive industry also collects and either reuses or recycles the following each year [1]:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24 million gallons of motor oil<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8 million gallons of engine coolant<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 million gallons of windshield washer fluid<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">96% of all lead acid batteries<\/span><\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In doing so, the industry is able to do the following for the environment [5]:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salvage enough steel in the U.S. and Canada to manufacture 13 million new cars and save enough energy in the steel industry to power over 17 million households<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Save an estimated 85 million barrels of oil from being used to make new vehicle parts. That\u2019s more than 8 Exxon Valdez oil spills! [11]<br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><\/ul><h4>How to recycle cars<\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are thousands of scrap and junk yards across the country for automotive recycling, and many will pay cash in exchange for your car [5]. These yards are well-versed in salvaging any\u00a0<\/span>reusable parts, with the below being some of the most sought-after, according to industry experts [5]:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engines<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transmissions<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body parts (hoods, fenders, bumpers)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tires<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Batteries<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Computer Systems<\/span><\/li><\/ul><div>\u00a0<\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The above items tend to be the most expensive parts when bought new, which increases their desirability to automotive recyclers.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc9093a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dc9093a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Industry trends<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97ff07f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"97ff07f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order for cars to be recycled, there needs to be a sufficient supply of ELV vehicles. Interestingly, the pandemic has had a profound impact on the average age of all cars on the road. In fact, the average age of any given car on American roads has reached an all-time high of about 12.2 years old [3]. This can be attributed to the supply chain issues which impacted vehicle production, causing many consumers to delay or re-think their purchases, keeping existing cars longer or opting for used cars over new car purchases altogether. The average age has risen over the last five years and is expected to increase into 2023.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And it\u2019s this rise in vehicle age which has impacted the number of cars being \u201cscrapped,\u201d or taken off the road, which can be recycled; in 2021, <\/span><b>over 11 million, or about 4.2%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, of vehicles were scrapped, compared to over 15 million, or 5.6%, in 2020. [3]<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd622b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd622b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Electric vehicles and the future of automotive recycling<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-647211b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"647211b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it isn\u2019t just the pandemic which has affected the number of cars available to automotive recyclers. Electric and hybrid cars present a unique challenge in the form of their lithium batteries. As previously discussed, traditional lead-acid batteries can be recycled, but lithium batteries contain hazardous materials which can explode if improperly disassembled [12].<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Globally, a maximum of about <\/span><b>5% of lithium-ion batteries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are recycled [12]. While many manufacturers such as Nissan, Volkswagen, and Renault, are already making strides in the recycling of these batteries, there is still a ways to go for the EV and hybrid markets as a whole [12]. With more and more of these sustainable vehicles hitting the market, many in the auto recycling industry may have to invest in the technology needed to dismantle lithium batteries once there is a greater supply of hybrid and electric ELVs available [11].<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3a09cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f3a09cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-832def2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"832def2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time will tell if auto recyclers can quickly adapt to the needs of today\u2019s new cars, especially hybrids and electric vehicles. Still, recycling ELVs is hugely beneficial. Not only does it help to conserve our planet\u2019s precious natural resources but it also helps reduce pollution and keeps\u00a0<\/span>waste out of landfills.\u00a0<\/p><p>Salvaging certain parts breathes new life into old materials while keeping costs down for consumers who would otherwise have to spend on new parts\u2014the production of which also creates more pollution.\u00a0<\/p><p>As technologies and education around sustainability continue to improve, we\u2019ll only continue to see the automotive recycling industry grow, and this will have a positive impact on the environment and more.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d13aaab elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d13aaab\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-be9892c\" data-id=\"be9892c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73488f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73488f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSources:\n<ol>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.a-r-a.org\/industry-statistics.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Automotive Recyclers Association<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imarcgroup.com\/about-us\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spglobal.com\/mobility\/en\/research-analysis\/average-age-of-vehicles-in-the-us-increases-to-122-years.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">S&amp;P Global Mobility<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conserve-energy-future.com\/6-positive-facts-global-car-recycling-industry.php\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Conserve Energy Future<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.uci.edu\/vehicle-recyling-a-driving-force-in-sustainability\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">UCI Sustainability<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.steelsustainability.org\/-\/media\/recycling-resources\/driving-auto-recycling-success.ashx\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Steel Sustainability<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ferro.steelmint.com\/articles\/fifteen-interesting-facts-on-auto-recycling-6134-2\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Steel Mint<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.steel.org\/steel-markets\/automotive\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">American Iron and Steel Institute<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.utires.com\/articles\/auto-recycling-statistics\/#2\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">United Tires<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/recycle\/managing-reusing-and-recycling-used-oil\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Environmental Protection Agency<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arscars.com\/environmental-impact-auto-recycling\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Advanced Remarketing Services<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/business-56574779\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">BBC<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnet.com\/roadshow\/news\/recyclable-cars-what-parts-end-up-in-the-trash\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">CNET<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.junkcarmedics.com\/blog\/car-recycling\/#carrecycling\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Junk Car Medics<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When we talk about recycling, the conversation often steers toward plastics. But you might be surprised to know that automobiles are actually the most recycled consumer products worldwide [6]. Historically, end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) found their way to the junkyard, and whatever wasn\u2019t salvaged stayed put or went to landfills [9]. Now we know that whether [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Automotive Recycling Statistics and Trends [2025 Update]<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Automotive recyclers play a vital role when it comes to both the environment as well as the vehicle repair industry.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/automotive-recycling-statistics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Automotive Recycling Statistics and Trends [2025 Update]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Automotive recyclers play a vital role when it comes to both the environment as well as the vehicle repair industry.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/automotive-recycling-statistics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"LookupAPlate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-17T09:26:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-21T03:00:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lookupaplate.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/automotive-recycling-statistics.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"664\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jason L Arthur\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" 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