Car recycling
Car recycling: what happens to your car after it's scrapped
A scrapped car doesn’t simply disappear. At an Authorised Treatment Facility it is made safe, stripped of useful parts and separated into materials that go on to have a second life.
Inside the facility
Four stages of car recycling
- 1
Depollution
Fuel, oil, coolant, brake fluid and air-conditioning gas are drained, and the battery, tyres and airbags are removed and made safe.
- 2
Parts recovery
Engines, gearboxes, panels, lights and electronics in good condition are taken off, checked and sold on as used parts.
- 3
Shredding
The stripped shell is shredded, and magnets and other separation methods sort steel from aluminium, copper and other materials.
- 4
New materials
Recovered metals are melted down and reused in manufacturing, from construction steel to new car parts.
Why it matters
Recycling keeps cars out of landfill
End-of-life vehicles are covered by regulations that require most of a car to be reused, recycled or recovered rather than thrown away. Authorised Treatment Facilities exist to meet those standards.
For you, it means the car is dealt with responsibly, with a paper trail to prove it. For everyone else, it means fewer abandoned cars and less waste.
Ready when you are
Recycling starts with a quote
Every car collected through Car Scrappage goes to an Authorised Treatment Facility. Start with the registration and postcode.
Questions
Recycling questions
Straight answers to what people ask before scrapping a car.
Can’t see your question? Read every answer or call 0800 058 8087.
Is the car really recycled?
Yes. At the Authorised Treatment Facility, fluids and hazardous parts are removed, reusable parts are recovered and the shell is shredded so its materials can be recycled.
What paperwork will I receive?
The Authorised Treatment Facility issues a Certificate of Destruction once the car has been destroyed. It's the formal record that the car has been scrapped.
Will I be paid in cash?
No. Since the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, scrap metal dealers in England and Wales can't pay cash for scrap vehicles. Payment is made by bank transfer or another traceable method.
Is there a charge for collection?
No. Collection is free wherever the car is in the UK, there are no admin or hidden fees, and turning down an offer costs nothing.