Junk cars – those old cars sitting in someone’s backyard – though not drivable, still have value for non-profit organizations. Charities, not being automotive professionals, sometimes turn their noses up at these low-end donations. “What’s the value of a car that can’t move?” they ask me.

Car being recycled

I have a good answer. They can be recycled. A fair percentage (though not the majority) of cars donated are not road-worthy. They get towed and usually are moved straight into recycling distribution channels. There, they offer a wealth of under-appreciated benefits to charities and communities.

About 85 percent of an automobile is recyclable. Its usable parts move through salvage yards to a second life to repaired vehicles. The leftover metals, plastics, glass and rubber find new life in everything from appliances to automobiles to bicycles. And, depending on the scrap metal commodity market at the time and region of donation (Scrap metal prices are different on the East Coast than on the West Coast), recycling a clunker can often bring as much as $400 to a charity.

Recycling these old vehicles does another good turn for the community, making sure that the old, pollution-spewing vehicles do not return to the road.

We advise our clients to accept almost all vehicles, including old junk cars, because even these old clunkers can bring in significant money for the charity if handled properly. Also, in addition to raising funds for their cause, the charities are doing their part to recycle and reuse.

– Tim Finnigan