If you want to make sure you’re doing the right thing when recycling your car, there are certain questions that must be asked. Some of these are of course more obvious than others, but if you’re to not only ensure your car is put in the right hands but also come out of the deal better off, it’s important to look beyond the basics and be proactive in your decision making process.
Here’s a look at a few examples of the more advanced questions to ask yourself before committing to a provider:
Question – Am I Really Getting a Fair Price?
You should never be in any doubt as to the price being offered for your car as it should be guaranteed by the recycling agency. It’s important to understand that the cost of steel for recycling purposes changes all the time, but there’s never any reason for one recycler to quote a price way below those of others. So before making a final choice, do a little research and shop around.
Question – Is the Agency I’m Looking Into Licensed?
Few realise it, but it’s legally necessary to have the appropriate licensing and permission to run a scrap car recycling centre or business. As such, those that don’t bother with the necessary licensing are breaking the law by operating and you’re helping them get away with it by using them. So it’s a really a simple case of looking into their legality before going forward, which should be easy enough to assess.
Question – Has the Company Been Accredited or Approved?
It’s the thoughts and opinions of those not tied to the company in any way that matter more than any others. As such, it’s a good idea to look for any kind of accreditation from car makers, endorsements from industry bodies or even something as simple as feedback from past and present customers. If their reputation seems to be golden, it’s usually safe to go ahead.
Question – Will the Recycling Firm Handle the Process Responsibly?
This all depends on the calibre of the firm you choose, which makes it important to look into their ethos. The long and short of it is that it’s pretty pointless to recycle the steel from a car, only to pour its toxic fluids down the drain and burn its tyres on a huge poisonous pile. This is sadly the approach of many unlicensed and underhanded scrap car dealers, which is why it’s crucial to make the right choice.
Question – Is It Necessary to Recycle a Car to the 85% By-Weight EU Target?
In a word, yes. Again, some underhanded recycling services will recycle much less than this in order to cash in on the most valuable stuff and to hell with the rest, but in order to comply with regulation it is crucial for every last shred of the car to be recycled when and where possible. This again should be something that’s clarified by the firm’s published ethos, but don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if not.