After their service life, cars in Russia are sent for recycling. The process is regulated by state rules and commercial companies that are engaged in dismantling and recycling. Motoram.ru tried to explain what happens to cars after they are sent for recycling.
Collection and preparation for recycling
Cars are taken to specialized collection points. There, documents are checked, batteries are disconnected, and technical fluids are drained — oil, antifreeze, fuel. This is a mandatory step to avoid environmental risks. After preparation, the cars are moved to dismantling sites.
Dismantling and sorting
At dismantling enterprises, specialists disassemble cars into parts. First, large units are removed: engine, gearbox, body parts.
Everything that can still be reused is marked as spare parts for the secondary market. For example, working engines, wheels, glass, and electronics find a buyer among car services and individuals.
Recycling of metals and materials
The remaining metal elements are sent for recycling to steel and aluminum scrap plants. Metals are melted and used to produce new products within the industry.
Plastic and rubber parts are sorted by type of polymer — some of them are recycled into granules for the production of household products or automotive components. Batteries and toxic components are disposed of separately at specialized enterprises with emission control.
What remains and how it is used
Some materials that cannot be recycled are thermally treated for safe disposal. The state ensures that waste does not enter the soil and water bodies. Car recycling helps to reduce the burden on nature and gives a second life to many parts.
Impact on the market
The growth in recycling volume stimulates the development of recycling enterprises and supports the spare parts market. Improving the quality of dismantling and recycling reduces the need for primary resource extraction and reduces the environmental damage from old cars.
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