When Walter White and Jesse Pinkman meet with Tuco in a scrapyard in New Mexico in Season 1 of Breaking Bad, it looks very much how a casual viewer would envision a scrap yard: an infinite field of crushed, flattened, and relatively intact cars strewn across an enormous landscape. Although Hollywood may paint the landscape of a scrapyard in a certain light, the truth of how scrap car companies like Kenny U-Pull really operate is vastly different from their on-screen depictions!

Step 1: Estimations & Appraisals 

The first step in operations scrap yards take is fielding calls from car owners who wish to sell their cars for scrap. At this stage, it’s imperative for potential vendors to supply scrap yard representatives with pertinent information such as the make, model, and year of production of the car, as well as verifiable documentation as to whether or not any major repairs or modifications have been made to the vehicle. Once all vital information has been related, scrap yards can supply potential vendors with a cash offer. 

Step 2: The Pick-Up

Once a scrap yard has supplied a quote to a potential vendor and they have accepted, the scrap yard will propose several dates for their in-house towing company to come and collect the car. 

Once a date is agreed upon, it’s beneficial for both the vendor and the scrap yard/towing team to have the vendor empty the car. Personal items such as car seats, loose change, rearview mirror accessories, and seasonal equipment should be removed from the vehicle. As well, the space surrounding the vehicle should be removed so as to facilitate the towing crew’s pick-up: storage boxes, seasonal equipment like snow blowers and lawnmowers, and bicycles should be relocated until the towing is complete.

Step 3: Removing Toxic Fluids

How reputable scrap yard companies like Kenny U-Pull operate at this stage is to have vehicles drained of all potentially toxic and hazardous chemicals. Fluids such as gasoline, oils, break/steering fluids, battery acid, and antifreeze are safely removed in accordance with local and state environmental laws. This assures that such substances will not pose a health and/or environmental risk, especially by guaranteeing that they don’t seep into the water supply.  Additionally, these fluids can be safely recycled to be resold to consumers at a reduced price. 

Step 4: How Scrap Car Companies Operate – Strip for Parts

Once toxic or hazardous elements are removed, how most scrap car companies operate is to remove all refurbishable parts such as catalytic converters, head/tail lights, and seats, (to name a few) for resale. In many cases, refurbished parts are just as serviceable as brand-new ones, and scrapyards like Kenny U-Pull are proud to provide high-quality used parts at discount prices. 

Step 5: Processing Raw Materials 

Once hazardous materials and reusable parts have been removed, the chassis of the vehicle can be processed and recycled for raw materials such as metal, glass, and rubber. The uses for such reprocessed raw materials are boundless, including reconstituting metals for items such as household appliances and automobiles; glass for windows and mirrors; and rubber for playground and sporting turf as well as pavement filler. At this point, how reputable scrap car companies operate would be to separate, cube, and/or shred these raw materials to make it easier for companies to collect and process them. 

To expand your knowledge on how scrap car companies operate or to book your appointment immediately, contact Kenny U-Pull today!