Did you know that many VW parts can be recycled? When a part or an entire car reaches the end of its life, a recycling center can make the most out of it and give it a second life. Here's what we know about how some of the parts used here at Patrick Volkswagen are recycled.
How Parts Are Recycled
When a part on your vehicle is replaced at our Volkswagen service center, that old part needs to be disposed of in some way. It can no longer do its job, but the materials used to make it might be able to have a second life. Old parts are sent to scrapyards and recycling center, and any that can be recycled are.
Entire vehicles can also be brought to recycling centers. Fluids are drained from the vehicle and a complete inspection is done to make sure that everything is still in good enough shape to be recycled. Then many of the vehicle's parts are recycled and broken down into materials that can be used to create new stuff.
What Can Be Recycled
Many of the parts in your car can be recycled. Scrap metal from the car itself and glass from your windshield can find another life after your vehicle has driven its last miles. The rubber and plastic from various components can also be repurposed and made into new products. Recyclable parts include:
- Filters
- Batteries
- Tires
- Seating and upholstery
- Carpeting and floor mats
- Exhaust system parts
- Alloy wheels and hubcaps
Recycling these parts can help cut down on the emissions created by the auto industry, because less of the raw materials used to build parts has to be manufactured. Creating glass or plastic requires fossil fuels and causes pollution. Recycling parts can help make the auto industry a little bit greener.