If you have ever wondered what happens to old or out-of-use cars, you are not alone. With about millions of cars reaching the end of their life per year globally – it is a valid point to ask where they all go when they become too old or broken down to drive. Many people sell their cars when they want a new or replacement vehicle. But even second-hand cars have a limited lifetime if they are used on a regular basis.

The answer is increasingly found in car recycling. In 2004, the European Union approved a Directive called the End of Life Vehicle (ELV Directive , which ensured that as much of a vehicle was recycled as possible, while still ensuring that hazardous materials were dealt with properly. The directive’s target is currently to have 95 per cent of ELV vehicles recycled by 2015. So why recycle your car? To begin, it’s good for the environment. Certain car parts - such as some types of metals - can be melted down and reused. Also, when you recycle your car, you can be sure that hazardous fluids and materials such as oil, gas, and antifreeze and brake fluid will be disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. In addition, many people who recycle their cars take advantage of tax deduction eligibility. And finally, recycling your car is simple. With all the advantages to recycling a vehicle, it simply makes sense to take all the necessary steps towards recycling when your car reaches the end of its life.