Before any car can be dismantled or crushed, it must go through a process called depollution. This is perhaps the most important stage of car scrapping, as it involves removing all the hazardous fluids that could cause serious environmental damage if released.
Engine Oil
The average car contains between 4 and 6 litres of engine oil. Used engine oil is a major pollutant. A single litre can contaminate one million litres of water. At our scrap yard, engine oil is drained into sealed containers and sent for re-refining, where it is cleaned and recycled into new lubricating oil.
Coolant
Engine coolant (antifreeze) typically contains ethylene glycol, which is toxic to humans and animals. Cars contain around 5 to 10 litres. It is drained separately and either recycled through distillation or disposed of through licensed hazardous waste facilities.
Brake Fluid
Hydraulic brake fluid is corrosive and harmful to the environment. It is drained from the brake lines, master cylinder, and calipers. Old brake fluid is processed as hazardous waste and cannot simply be poured down the drain.
Power Steering Fluid
Vehicles with hydraulic power steering contain power steering fluid, another petroleum-based product requiring careful disposal. Electric power steering systems in newer cars do not use fluid.
Fuel
Any remaining petrol or diesel must be drained from the fuel tank and fuel lines. Recovered fuel is typically filtered and reused. The fuel tank itself is removed and recycled.
Air Conditioning Refrigerant
Car air conditioning systems contain refrigerant gases (typically R134a or R1234yf) that are potent greenhouse gases. These must be recovered using specialist equipment. Releasing them into the atmosphere is illegal and harmful to the ozone layer. Our car dismantlers use certified recovery equipment.
Other Fluids
Windscreen washer fluid, gearbox oil, differential oil, and transfer case fluid (in 4×4 vehicles) are also drained. Battery acid from lead-acid batteries is neutralised and processed separately.
Every vehicle at our ATF is fully depolluted. Get a free quote. We collect from Inverness, Stirling, Elgin, and across Scotland.