In partnership with the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) and the Automotive Recycling Training Institute (ARTI), the SHiFT National Vehicle Retirement Initiative™ is a social enterprise dedicated to responsibly recycling vehicles, ensuring environmentally friendly procedures from start to finish.Through its comprehensive approach, SHiFT along with it’s partners not only lessen the environmental impact of individual vehicles but also contributes to a broader shift towards sustainable consumption patterns that can significantly mitigate the overall carbon footprint of the transportation sector.
SHiFTing for the Future
Recycling plays a pivotal role in vehicle retirement, as it reduces the need for new manufacturing. The auto industry requires significant energy and resources to produce new vehicles and components. Auto recycling helps alleviate some of this demand, leading to reduced environmental impacts associated with manufacturing processes. For example recycling steel uses 74 percent less energy than making brand-new steel.
Pictured above are all of the different ways recycled parts become new products.
Additionally, the responsible disposal of vehicles prevents the release of hazardous materials into the environment, further diminishing the negative impact on air and soil quality. Vehicles contain various fluids and hazardous materials, such as gas, engine oil, coolant, and batteries. ARA estimates that 100.8 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel are collected and reused each year. Auto recycling facilities are equipped to handle the proper disposal and recycling of these materials, preventing environmental contamination.
Through these comprehensive efforts, SHiFT not only addresses the immediate environmental concerns associated with vehicle disposal but also contributes to the overall sustainability of transportation systems.
SHiFT Today
We may never be able to fully reverse the damage done in our lifetimes, but we can make changes to slow climate change by rethinking our transportation choices and how we retire our vehicles.
Recycle your car today and join our initiative for a greener future!