BELCHERTOWN, Mass. – Westover Auto Salvage has officially become the first automotive recycling facility in Western Massachusetts to implement the protocols of the SHiFT® Vehicle Retirement Initiative. This collaboration establishes a standardized framework for the decommissioning and material recovery of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) within the region, ensuring that automotive retirement meets rigorous environmental and industrial criteria.
The transition of an unused car from a road asset to a secondary raw material source requires a multi-stage industrial process. Under the SHiFT® initiative, the recycling workflow is categorized into three primary phases: depollution, dismantling, and material segregation.
Before a vehicle can be processed for scrap or parts, all hazardous fluids must be extracted. This is a critical step in vehicle recycling that prevents heavy metals and chemical compounds from leaching into the soil. At Westover Auto Salvage, technicians utilize specialized equipment to drain:
Hydrocarbons: Engine oil, transmission fluid, and fuel.
Coolants: Ethylene glycol and various refrigerants (R-134a/R-1234yf).
Brake and Hydraulic Fluids: Glycol-ether-based fluids that require separate containment.
In an example of circular thinking at the facility level, Westover repurposes recovered waste oil to power on-site heating systems, reducing the facility’s reliance on external energy for climate control.
Once depolluted, the ELV is inventoried for used parts. High-value components—such as alternators, starters, and body panels—are tested and cataloged. This process supports the circular economy by providing a domestic supply of parts, which significantly reduces the energy-intensive demand for new part manufacturing.
The final stage involve the permanent decommissioning of the engine block to ensure high-polluting units do not return to the secondary market. The remaining “hulk” is then processed for ferrous and non-ferrous metal recovery. By reclaiming steel and aluminum, the industry maintains a “closed-loop” system that preserves the auto recycling history of being one of the world’s most efficient reclamation industries.
Each vehicle processed through this certified system represents a significant reduction in environmental risk. Industry data suggests that the responsible retirement of a single ELV can prevent between 5 and 10 tons of carbon emissions annually by removing inefficient engines from the road and replacing virgin material mining with recycled resources.
