Auto recycling is the leading recycling industry in California, and in the United States, according to the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. California auto recyclers dismantle nearly 650,000 vehicles each year!

By keeping vehicles and their hazardous components out of overcrowded landfills, auto recyclers provide a valuable community service.

Surprisingly, however, many auto recyclers inadvertently harm the environment. Adding to the problem are unlicensed, illegal auto recycling facilities that fail to manage their businesses safely. For instance, when auto recyclers improperly discard or store hazardous auto parts, toxic substances such as metals, oils, and coolants can end up on the ground. When it rains, these substances are then flushed into our waterways.

Mercury is particularly dangerous, even in very small quantities, as it endangers aquatic life, contaminates water sources, and jeopardizes public health. One gram of mercury can contaminate all of the water and aquatic life in a 25-acre lake. Most vehicles contain nearly two grams of mercury in their hood and trunk switches - mercury that can be released to the environment when cars are crushed for recycling.

For further information, review the project website set of documents including: An Auto Recycling Overview, Fact Sheet, A Guide for Auto Recycler Owners and Operators, Methods for Incenting Auto Recyclers Towards Environmental Excellence, and Managing End-of-Life Vehicles to Minimize Environmental Harm. These documents are available at:
Auto Recycling: From Litigation to Collaboration

Report to San Francisco Bay Fund on the Auto Recycling Project(5 page .pdf file)
Mike Gerel. Sustainable Conservation. October 6, 2003