When a car reaches the end of its life, it doesn't just become waste. Up to 95% of its materials can be reused, contributing to the circular economy and reducing environmental impact.
The Automotive Recycling Process
Recycling begins at Authorized Treatment Facilities (ATFs), the only places where a vehicle can be safely and legally deregistered. There, the car goes through several stages:
Decontamination and Dismantling
Contaminating fluids such as oils, coolants, and fuels are removed. Then, reusable parts like tires, glass, and plastics are dismantled, which can be reconditioned or sold as spare parts.
Fragmentation and Material Separation
After being compacted, the vehicle is fed into a fragmentation machine, which reduces it to small parts. Then, its components are separated:
- Metals (steel, aluminum, copper): They are melted down and reused in the manufacture of bicycles, appliances, or new vehicles.
- Non-metallic materials (rubbers, foams): They are used for energy recovery to produce fuel.
New Uses for Recycled Parts
- Tires: Converted into artificial turf, shoe soles, or brake pads.
- Used oil: Refined to manufacture lubricants or industrial fuel.
- Glass: Transformed into glass bottles.
- Copper: Used in the manufacture of electrical cables.
- Airbags: Their fabric is used to make neoprene suits.
A Sustainable Future
Vehicle recycling not only reduces waste and the exploitation of natural resources but also generates employment and strengthens the circular economy. A car that stops running still has value in new applications, demonstrating that sustainable mobility doesn't end with its useful life but transforms into new opportunities.
