Eco-Friendly Junk Car Removal: Why It Matters in Illinois
Eco-Friendly Junk Car Removal: Why It Matters in Illinois
Want Cash and a Cleaner City? Eco-Friendly Junk Car Removal Works
Think your old car doesn’t affect the planet? Think again.
Junk cars leak fluids, release toxins, and pile up in landfills. What looks like a dead vehicle is often a source of long-term environmental harm. But when recycled responsibly, that same car becomes valuable raw material — not waste.
A+ Junk N Tow makes eco-friendly junk car removal simple and safe for Illinois residents. Here’s how green car removal protects your home, your neighborhood, and the planet.
Now that you know how junk vehicles cause harm, let’s look at the real impact of improper disposal—and why Illinois can’t afford to ignore it.
Letting a junk car sit too long adds risk. Our team makes eco-friendly junk car removal fast, simple, and safe for Illinois residents. Call (708) 968-2505 today for reliable help from local professionals who value the environment.
The Environmental Problem With Abandoned or Improperly Junked Cars
Letting a junk car sit may seem harmless—but it quietly creates lasting damage.
When a vehicle sits unused or is junked without proper handling, it starts to break down. Over time, toxic fluids like oil, antifreeze, and brake fluid leak into the ground and nearby water. Even in small amounts, these substances contaminate soil, pollute waterways, and harm wildlife.
- A single vehicle holds 5 to 10 gallons of hazardous liquids
- These include transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and washer solvents
- Over time, just one car can contaminate more than 250,000 gallons of groundwater, a concern highlighted in EPA automotive waste research.
And the damage doesn’t stop underground. Poorly run junkyards often crush or burn vehicles using outdated methods—releasing harmful chemicals into the air:
- Benzene and lead
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) tied to respiratory illness
- Residual fumes that linger in surrounding neighborhoods
One neglected vehicle can impact the health of an entire block. When cars aren’t disposed of properly, the consequences reach far beyond the driveway.
How Eco-Friendly Junk Car Removal Really Works
Proper recycling turns your old vehicle into a resource—not a liability.
When a car is handled by professionals at certified facilities, every step is designed to prevent harm and maximize reuse.
Step 1: Decontamination
Before anything else, hazardous fluids and parts are removed.
- All fluids are safely drained: oil, antifreeze, brake and transmission fluids
- Mercury switches, batteries, and refrigerants are extracted
- These are routed to licensed disposal and recovery partners
Why it matters: Mercury switches—found in older cars—are considered “universal waste.” They pose a neurological risk and must be stabilized or thermally treated before a car can be crushed.
Step 2: Material Recovery
Once the dangerous components are removed, the vehicle is dismantled for reusable materials.
- Metal frames, tires, windows, rubber, and interior foam are all salvageable
- Up to 75% of a junk car is recyclable
- With advanced melting and separation, 86% of total material weight can be reused
Step 3: Environmental Impact
Recycling your car reduces the demand for new raw materials—and that saves energy and resources on a national scale.
- Auto recycling helps save 85 million barrels of oil per year
- It cuts down emissions and conserves iron, coal, and limestone
- Fewer materials need to be mined or refined, reducing strain on the environment
Bottom Line
Certified eco-friendly junk car removal keeps toxins out of landfills and puts valuable materials back into the supply chain. It’s not just disposal — it’s responsible transformation.
Why Illinois Needs Green Junk Car Practices Now More Than Ever
In many parts of Illinois—especially around Chicago—landfill space is running out. Abandoned vehicles left on streets, in alleys, or behind garages aren’t just an eyesore. They take up valuable space and worsen a growing waste problem, which Illinois auto recycling laws are working to address.
- Illinois has less than 18 years of landfill capacity remaining
- Densely populated counties like Cook and DuPage face even shorter timelines
- Discarded cars accelerate space loss and environmental risk
State officials recognize the urgency. The Illinois Auto Recyclers Environmental Guide now outlines specific rules for licensed buyers and processors — including fire damaged car buyers — covering:
- Fluid drainage and containment
- Battery and mercury switch removal
- Safe management of airbag modules
Manufacturers are also rethinking how vehicles come apart. The Vehicle Recycling Partnership (VRP) promotes “design for disassembly,” making it easier to recycle newer cars once they reach end-of-life.
Across Illinois, more drivers are choosing a sustainable junk car service because they want transparency, safety, and less waste. Local policies are evolving—and so is public awareness.
A+ Junk N Tow’s Eco-Friendly Junk Car Removal Steps
Getting rid of a junk car shouldn’t create more waste—it should create value. That’s why every step of our process is designed to protect the environment and repurpose your vehicle responsibly.
A+ Junk N Tow works exclusively with Illinois-certified auto recyclers, ensuring each vehicle contributes to a meaningful vehicle recycling impact. Whether it’s a commuter car, fire-damaged truck, or totaled SUV, every vehicle we purchase goes through a strict decontamination process:
- All fluids are drained safely and professionally
- Batteries, mercury switches, and refrigerants are handled with care
- No shortcuts, no guesswork — only licensed disposal partner
We also maintain a zero-landfill policy whenever possible, focusing on safe disassembly, part reuse, and metal recovery. Every junk car gets one final job: to become something useful again without polluting local ecosystems.
Stat to know: Recycling just one ton of steel saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone. Auto recycling remains one of the most resource-efficient practices in waste management today.
Looking for junk car pickup in Illinois that values ethics, safety, and sustainability? That’s exactly what we deliver.
Bonus – What You Can Do to Keep Your Junk Car Green
You don’t need expert training to make an environmentally responsible choice—a few simple steps can make the entire green car disposal process safer and more sustainable:
- Clear out household trash before pickup. Extra debris inside a vehicle can interfere with proper recycling and fluid recovery.
- Ask how your car will be handled. Responsible fire damaged car buyers should be open about dismantling procedures and where each component goes.
- Choose licensed junk car buyers instead of anonymous online postings. Verified companies follow environmental standards that protect your community.
Anyone planning to sell my junk car for cash while staying eco-conscious can make a meaningful impact by choosing a buyer committed to protecting both people and the planet.
Responsible Car Disposal Starts With You
Eco-friendly junk car removal isn’t just about clearing space in your driveway — it’s about protecting what surrounds it. Each responsible choice reduces contamination, preserves landfill space, and supports cleaner air and water across Illinois.
A+ Junk N Tow is committed to making that process safe, ethical, and efficient. Every vehicle processed through cash for junk cars services helps turn waste into value — drained fluids, recovered parts, and recycled metals all working toward a cleaner future.
Your junk car still has work to do — just not on the road.
Junk car removal doesn’t have to drag on. Call (708) 968-2505 or grab your FREE estimate now. Make room, protect your space, and feel good knowing your decision supports a cleaner Illinois.
A+ Junk N Tow Offers Services As Follows:
Especially Selected Articles:
Eco-Friendly Junk Car Removal: Why It Matters in Illinois Read More »








