FAQs

Automobile Recycling Information

The automobile recycling industry makes up 2.5 billion dollars worth of Canadian industry and provides local employment across Canada. Using recycled parts saves you money on vehicle insurance as the sale on recycled parts subtract from insurance companies total claims on totaled late model vehicles. Recycling vehicles also preserves natural resources. In Canada alone, 1.5 million vehicles are reclaimed and therefore saving an estimated 12 million barrels of oil which would be necessary for new part production. 75% of a vehicles content (by weight) is recycled, no other complex mass produced item has achieved such a high percentage. Recycling is a positive way of helping reduce the impact on greenhouse gases.

Salvage Vehicles:

Green’s Auto primarily buys salvage vehicles. What are salvage vehicles? These vehicles are cars and trucks that have been involved in a collision or accident of some kind and have been deemed as a write off by the insurance appraisers. We purchase these vehicles at salvage auctions and tender sales. The typical salvage vehicle represents 95% of all vehicles purchased at Green’s. The other 5% are referred to as end of life vehicles (EOLV).

What is the process?

When salvage vehicles arrive they are assigned a stock number which is recorded on an inventory worksheet. This worksheet is used to record all of the vehicles information such as serial number, year, make, model, date acquired, vehicle options, towing company, etc. We also use the worksheet to identify all of the parts that are to be salvaged indicating condition, quality and price. After this information is confirmed it is downloaded to our inventory database and ready to sell.

The vehicle is then taken to our dismantling area where all of the fluids are recovered. These fluids include Fuel, engine coolant, engine oil, transmission fluid. Air conditioning refrigerants are recovered and contained with the use of a recovery system. At Green’s no CFC’s are released into the atmosphere.
After fluid recovery is completed the vehicle is dismantled to the point of what is needed for inside inventory. The rest is stored in an assigned location within our yard. Those parts are recovered as needed.

End of Life Vehicles:

What happens to these vehicles? Cars and trucks that are taken out of service due to age, high mileage or simply will not pass a motor vehicle inspection are considered to be (EOLV) End of Life Vehicles. When we receive these vehicles there is minimal part value and will be sold as scrap metal. The process for these vehicles is the same in terms of fluid recovery and dismantling.