Glossary of Automotive Recycling Terms

Welcome to our comprehensive glossary of automotive recycling terms. This resource is designed to help both industry professionals and curious individuals navigate the complex world of auto recycling. Whether you're a seasoned recycler, a car owner considering recycling your vehicle, or simply interested in learning more about the process, this glossary will provide clear definitions and explanations of key terms and concepts.Our glossary covers a wide range of topics, including:

  • Industry-specific terminology
  • Recycling processes and techniques
  • Environmental considerations
  • Legal and regulatory terms
  • Parts and materials commonly recycled from vehicles

Use the alphabetical navigation below to quickly jump to specific terms, or browse through the entire glossary to gain a comprehensive understanding of the automotive recycling industry. We hope this resource enhances your knowledge and supports your engagement with automotive recycling practices.

A

Abandoned Vehicle: A vehicle left unclaimed by its registered owner.

ARA (Automotive Recyclers Association): A non-profit trade association representing professionals in the automotive recycling industry.

ASR (Auto Shredder Residue): Also known as "fluff," it's the material left over after a vehicle has been shredded and all metals have been removed.

Automotive Recycling: The process of dismantling end-of-life vehicles for spare parts and recycling the remaining materials.

Automotive Recycling Facility: A location where end-of-life vehicles are processed for parts and materials recovery.

B

Baling: The process of compressing scrapped car bodies into dense cubes for easier transport and processing.

C

CAR (Certified Automotive Recycler): A designation awarded by ARA to recyclers who meet specific quality, safety, and ethical standards.

Catalytic Converter: An emissions control device containing precious metals that can be recycled.

Core: A used auto part suitable for remanufacturing or rebuilding.

Crushing: The process of compacting a vehicle to reduce its size for transportation or further processing.

D

Depollution: The process of removing hazardous materials and fluids from a vehicle before recycling.

Dismantling: The process of taking apart a vehicle to salvage usable parts and prepare the remainder for recycling.

E

End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV): A vehicle that has reached the end of its useful life and is destined for recycling.

E-waste: Electronic waste from vehicles, including computers, sensors, and other electronic components.

F

Ferrous Metals: Metals that contain iron, such as steel, which make up the majority of a vehicle's weight.

Fluid Recovery System: Equipment used to safely drain and collect various fluids from end-of-life vehicles.

G

Green Parts: Recycled auto parts that are environmentally friendly alternatives to new parts.

H

Hazardous Materials: Substances in vehicles that require special handling during recycling, such as mercury, lead, and various fluids.

I

Inventory Management System: Software used by recyclers to track and manage their inventory of recycled parts.

J

Junk Vehicle: A vehicle that is no longer roadworthy and is only valuable for its parts or scrap metal.

L

Landfill Diversion: The practice of recycling materials to prevent them from ending up in landfills.

M

Magnetics: Equipment used to separate ferrous metals from other materials during the recycling process.

N

Non-Ferrous Metals: Metals that do not contain iron, such as aluminum, copper, and brass, found in various vehicle components.

O

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Parts: Parts made by the original manufacturer of the vehicle.

P

Parts Grading: A system used to classify the condition and quality of recycled auto parts.

Precious Metals: Valuable metals found in catalytic converters and other components, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium.

R

Recycled Part: A part removed from an end-of-life vehicle that can be reused in another vehicle.

Remanufactured Part: A used part that has been restored to a like-new condition.

S

Salvage Vehicle: A vehicle that has been damaged, dismantled, or declared a total loss by an insurance company.

Scrap Metal: Metal from end-of-life vehicles that is recycled for its material value.

Shredding: The process of crushing and tearing vehicles into small pieces to separate different materials.

T

Total Loss: A vehicle that has been damaged to the extent that repair costs would exceed its value.

V

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): A unique code used to identify individual vehicles.