Car Scrapped? What Happens Next?

Have you ever wondered what happens to your car once it’s been scrapped?

Let’s break down the process of scrapping cars in the UK, from collection to depollution, crushing, and recycling.

From cube to can, it’s an extraordinary process!

Let’s begin by breaking down (pun intended) what happens to your old set of wheels once you bid a final farewell.

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First Things First: Heading to a Scrapyard

Once an approved recycler has collected your vehicle, it will be sent to the scrapyard handling the recycling process.

Typically, if not always, the vehicle will be sent to an Authorised treatment facility.

These are registered, licensed facilities that can legally dispose of hazardous waste and other forms of scrap metal.

An authorised treatment facility will handle the depollution and assist in compliance with de-registering the vehicle and notifying the DVLA. This is often achieved once the car is crushed and a certificate of destruction is issued.

Depollution Time

Once your vehicle enters the gates of the local scrap yard or A.T.F., it will be prepared for depollution.

Depollution of a vehicle often consists of removing your car from any hazardous waste and material before being sent to the shredder and crushed.

Often, the vehicle will be stripped of any fluid, such as fuel, screen wash fluid and engine oil.

The process typically takes 15-30 minutes, depending on the vehicle and how busy the scrapyard is.

Shredded scrap is more straightforward and gives a thick blend when mixed with heavy and light material. The ferrous and nonferrous, as well as other materials, are automatically segregated through magnetic separation, which is hassle-free, notes Agarwal, adding that shredders don’t require intensive care and are easy to maintain. The design of the shredding machine is flameproof so that it can sustain enough mechanical damage. The amount of torque that is used to process lightweight scrap and bulky scrap can be controlled with the use of a good shredder. “Metals shredded using a shredder help improve furnace feeding so that re-melting efficiency can be increased. The time proficiency of the shredder is exact, and the crude materials are offered in the fastest period. It’s the best quality, and there is a high demand for this material in the local and international market, which is widely used in furnaces,” the MD comments.

Rajesh Agarwal, Managing Director, RKG International.

Stripped For Parts: Supporting The Circular Economy

Your vehicle will be assessed for salvage once any hazardous material has been removed.

Salvage cars are typically in better condition and may have the potential to be broken down for vehicle parts that can be put to use.

These parts include bodywork panels, catalytic converters, engines and gearboxes.
It could even be something simple such as the windscreen mirrors, headlights or front bumper – Depending on the condition!
Car salvaging is an essential aspect of the recycling process and ensures what once was waste can be repurposed for something more.

QUICK FACT: Data by SMMT shows that up to 95% of a vehicle can be effectively recycled and salvaged.

Anything from car parts, glass, steel and plastic can be recovered and up-cycled, supporting the circular economy of metal recycling.

Shredded Cars - How It Works

The remainder will be shredded once any hazardous material has been removed, and the vehicle has been salvaged.

This is typically achieved through a shredder, equipment used to break down the vehicle into Frag.
The remaining vehicle will typically be put through a magnet or sorter, separating the ferrous and non-ferrous material.
This will allow the vehicle to be shredded easily as light and heavy materials are removed to the best of its capability.
All that will be left is frag feed (smaller fragments of mixed metals) and frag fluff (car foam and plastics).

A necessary process, shredding cars before being crushed, allows maximum materials to be extracted and repurposed – Leaving minimum waste.

Crushed Car: From A Cube To A Can

Once your vehicle’s key competence has been shredded, you will often be left with what’s known as a shell.

Once the car has been crushed, it will be balled and resemble a cube. This can be anywhere from a few days to a few months.
A baler rushes your vehicle and is often prepared for export to international smelters and foundries.
This typically occurs on-site, where a forklift will load the car onto a crushing bed.
Here, an excavator with a giant claw or magnet will move the vehicle into the baler, where the operator will activate the hydraulics.

QUICK FACT: The Granutech Big MAC portable crusher can do the task in 45 seconds and crush 4-5 cars at any given time.

Send To Foundry

A foundry is a factory where metals are smelted at high temperatures and repurposed for industry and commercial use.

Key materials typically cast are Iron, aluminium, and steel – they are lightweight, durable and efficient in high heat.

Foundries are an important recycling aspect – Connecting the industry to commercial commodities.

The average lifespan of raw material being repurposed is very short: You can expect the Aluminium in your car to be back on the shelves as a can in as little as 60 days!

A Process That Supports A Better Future

We hope we have broken down what happens to scrapped cars in the UK.

Your vehicle goes through an extraordinary process from the initial collection to depollution.

This benefits us all in more ways than one – From reduced dependency on virgin metals to improved recycling and a greener planet.

Thank you for playing your part in the recycling process!

Questions On What Happens To Scrapped Cars

Here are our popular questions on what happens to scrap cars.

What happens to my car once it's collected for scrapping?

After collection, your car is sent to an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) for depollution, dismantling, and recycling.

These facilities are licensed to handle hazardous waste and scrap metal.
What is the process of depolluting a scrapped car?

Depollution involves removing hazardous materials and fluids from the car, like fuel, screenwash, and engine oil.

This process usually takes 15-30 minutes and is essential before the car can be crushed or shredded.
Are any parts of my car salvaged for reuse?

Yes, salvageable parts like bodywork panels, catalytic converters, engines, and gearboxes are removed for reuse.

Up to 95% of a vehicle can be recycled and salvaged, supporting the circular economy.
What happens during the shredding of a car?

After depollution and salvaging, the remainder of the car is shredded.

Shredders break down the vehicle into smaller fragments, separating ferrous and non-ferrous materials, preparing them for further recycling processes.
How is a crushed car repurposed?

The crushed car, resembling a cube, is often sent to foundries for smelting and repurposing into commercial products like cans.

This process involves melting key materials like iron, aluminium, and steel.
How does scrapping my car benefit the environment?

Scrapping your car reduces reliance on virgin metals and supports recycling efforts, contributing to a greener planet.

Recycled materials from cars can re-enter the market in various forms, like aluminum cans, in a short span of time.
How long does it take for a car to be recycled?

The timeline can vary, but once the car is crushed into a cube, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few months before it’s processed and repurposed for industrial and commercial use.
Do I need to notify anyone after my car is scrapped?

Yes, the ATF will assist in de-registering the vehicle and notifying the DVLA.

A certificate of destruction is usually issued once the car is crushed, formalising the end of your car’s legal existence.