ECO Alphabet: Week 10: Junkyards

Updated: Sep 17, 2020

How do I properly get rid of my junk???

Well, let me tell you!

junkyards, environmental impacts, eco-friendly lifestyle, eco travel, recycle, reuse, ecoprenuer, chemical waste, storm water pollution, soil contamination, auto recycling, salvage yard, old cars

What is a Junkyard/ Salvage Yard?

It is a place that contains a lot of junk... i.e. automobiles, electrical appliances, batteries, furniture, etc.

#1 Problem = storm water pollution and soil contamination

These problems originate from the mishandling of your junk leading to the release of harsh chemicals to the environment, like:

  • Gasoline

  • Diesel

  • Oil

  • Transmission, Power Steering, and Brake Fluids

  • Gear Oil

  • Lead from batteries

  • Refrigerants from A/C units (chloroflourocarbons)

  • Sodiumazide from airbags

  • Mercury from light switches

When rain or flooding occurs these pollutants are washed away into the environment then effecting plant growth, oxygen concentrations, water temperatures, and benthic communities...

How-to Pick a Good Junkyard

  1. Make sure they have a storm water permit. This requires the company to have a storm water pollution prevention plan.

  2. Use a You-Pull-It Center/ Vehicle Recycler (Part recycling, part inventory). These companies will remove harmful contaminants before allowing vehicles to sit in yard, inventory all parts that can be reused, recycle all parts that cannot be reused, and they pay you even if your appliance doesn't run. An example of a good company is My Auto Store.