Waaaaaay back in 2011 we passed the 1 billion mark for cars on the planet. That’s a lot of:

• metal
• rubber
• glass
• fabric
• emissions
• storage
• jobs
  • creation/production
  • oil
  • gas
  • repairs
• progress
• memories
• recycling

Why would you want to retire your ride?

The pendulum for so many years swung towards consumerism. Retire your ride? We didn’t even think about it! Create, build, consume, repeat. Without a lot of forward thought to the repercussions of such progress, the cycle continues. Vehicles have paved the way (pun intended) for much of the technology and forward thinking we have today. When the industrial revolution hit in the mid 1800’s, no one could have ever predicted the outcome.

While we all enjoy the benefits and luxuries afforded us by this revolution, we’ve also recognized the responsibility that comes with it to ensure proper care and awareness of our environment.

One thing we know for sure – there are lots of vehicles in Canada needing to be retired (think about that – 1 billion vehicles on the planet!), which translates into being repurposed or recycled. It is important to us at Donate A Car Canada to be mindful of the process.

A little more friendly to the environment

It’s taken several years for the vehicle recycling industry to transition into a more environmentally friendly focus. Now, it has come a long way to ensuring proper disposal and usage of materials when a vehicle becomes their responsibility. It is an expensive and time consuming process to remove and dispose of fluids properly. Then recyclers need to crush and pallet the metal and ship it somewhere to be used.

When a vehicle comes into our program, part of our process is to determine if it should be re-sold, or recycled. When looking for agents in various parts of the country to provide service for us, we try to secure environmentally conscientious guys first. It’s important to us that, when you’re ready to retire your ride, you have choices that work for you.

We’ve joined forces with so many amazing, dedicated and supportive towing agents, recyclers and auction houses and we are so very grateful for the part they play in the process of getting your donation from your yard to the dollars we send to your charities of choice!

Retire your ride with purpose

If you are ready to make a meaningful difference with your unused/unwanted vehicle, we’re your crew! You can donate it to any Canadian charity. Yup! ANY one of the over 80,000 organizations working to sustain, improve, research, heal, and entertain our amazing country.

The process is simple, quick, and free. Fill in an online donation form. Then wait for one of the above-mentioned tow agents to call to arrange your free tow support. Next, wait for your tax receipt to arrive in your inbox!

So, if you’re done with it, do good with it!

Top image courtesy of adamr at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post It Takes A ‘Village’ to Retire Your Ride! appeared first on Donate A Car.

Earth Day how to’s

Earth Day Canada shares a uniquely Canadian perspective on how to get involved this April 22nd:

On their official U.S. site, EarthDay engages us in seven ways to honour Earth Day this year. They invite us to “Invest in Our Planet.”

“This year marks the 53^rd anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement, commemorated annually as Earth Day. Since 1970, billions of individuals from more than 190 countries worldwide have come together every April 22nd to take action towards a greener, more equitable future for our planet. As the countdown to Earth Day 2023 continues, it is important to remember regardless of where you are or what you do, you have the power to yield real change and be a champion for Earth. To protect our planet, we must invest in it.”

Their seven invitations are simple and sustainable! A few of their suggestions? Consider reducing your plastic use. Plant something, or (and!) donate to your local Earth care cause.

Charities that tend to Earth Day causes year ’round

Did you know there are Canadian charities working 24/7, 365 days a year to care for our fierce and vulnerable planet? Volunteers and professionals alike are working hard to keep this rock spinnin’!

Pop over to our Charities page! Explore the list of wildlife, ecology, conservation, and sustainability charities we already have signed on. If you can’t find the charity you support on our list, no problem! We can serve any charity in Canada! We make it easy to get your gift into the right hands.

Spend time on your local Earth-loving charity website. Get to know their mission. Then, get curious about how you can get involved. Our impact as individuals may feel ordinary, but does it ever add up when we jump in on this together!

Earth Day | Recycle a car

Here at Donate a Car Canada we re-sell and recycle donated vehicles. We love this work in no small part because of the caring-for-Earth component. Certainly your gift will get needed dollars into deserving hands! Not only that, every car donation means a boost to your local scrap or re-sale market. But there’s more to it than that! Every time we donate a vehicle we do one of two things: We extend its life, reducing waste. Or, we see that vehicle taken off the road in an environmentally conscious way.

If you have an unused or unwanted truck, van, car, SUV, or motorcycle to share, donate it today! You are a click or a call away (the tow is always free) from this kind of unique Earth Day care. Then, choose any charity in Canada. Next? Just sit back and wait for that free tow and your tax receipt!

You are also invited to contact and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! There you’ll be able to keep up to date on our program. You can also see posts that showcase our amazing donors and charities in every province in Canada!

The post Earth Day | Recycle a Car appeared first on Donate A Car.

It is becoming more and more prevalent to ensure vehicles are disposed of properly. There is a lot of controversy around carbon footprints. What is left behind when a vehicle is no longer drivable? Moreover, what about the carbon footprint left behind in the manufacturing of our cars and trucks?

Recycling is all about stewardship

The truth of the matter is we need to increase awareness. Let’s take whatever recycling action we can! For us, that means we assist in the proper removal and disposal methods available to us.

We believe Donate A Car Canada has a role and responsibility when a vehicle is submitted for donation. It is our best effort to work with agents across the country that have a similar mindset. We understand that it is a costly process for scrap yards/auto wreckers to engage in. Furthermore, not all agents are in a position to make the recycling transition as of yet.

In the words of the Automotive Recyclers of Canada, “Recyclers purchase end-of-life and accidented vehicles, and ensure that all vehicles are retired in an environmentally sound manner. They spend significant resources to build and maintain facilities specially designed to capture and store harmful materials, keeping them from contaminating soil and groundwater.”

When a vehicle is properly discarded, up to 85% of parts can be recycled for other uses! This typically means recycled steel manufacturing. Proper disposal of gasoline, oil products, or anti-freeze helps! These agents prevent waste from seeping into the ground. That eliminates contamination that can cause harm both to the environment and to the soil long term.

Who is behind the wheel on recycling?

One of our key agents has been instrumental in pursuing and generating change in the industry. As president of the Alberta Automotive Recyclers and Dismantlers Association he helps the cause. He is also on the Board with the Automotive Recyclers of Canada. As you will see in this interview, Steve Cox from Allwest Auto Parts in Edmonton, Alberta, is passionate about his work! See the difference he and his staff are making for our environment and future generations! We are proud to be affiliated with his organization. 

Please visit any one of these websites for more information on environmentally responsible processes for your vehicle:

Automotive Recyclers of Canada

Alberta Automotive Recylers & Dismantlers Association

Automotive Recyclers Association

Ready for a little four-wheeled recycling of your own?

You are less than 10 minutes away from your free tow! Go ahead! Donate your unused or unwanted car, truck, van, or SUV. The charity you love will benefit. Your driveway will be all the happier! And, on top of it all, we will work together to tend our earth.

Not quite ready to donate? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! There you will get an overall feel for how we care for each other and our charities. This is a caring community, here to serve you.

The post Keeping it Green in the Recycling Industry appeared first on Donate A Car.