What is a salvage yard?

A salvage yard, also known as a junkyard or scrapyard, is a place where wrecked, damaged or unwanted vehicles and machinery are stored for dismantling, recycling or resale. Salvage yards can also accept other materials such as appliances, furniture, and building supplies.

Salvage yards can be privately owned or operated by the government. They typically purchase vehicles and machinery from insurance companies, individuals and businesses that are no longer in use or have been declared total losses due to an accident, fire, or flood. Some salvage yards also purchase vehicles that are still in working condition for resale.

Once the vehicles and machinery arrive at the salvage yard, they are sorted, stripped of their usable parts, and crushed for recycling. The salvage yard may also sell some of the usable parts to customers who need replacements for their own vehicles.

Salvage yards are important for the environment as they provide a way to recycle old and unwanted materials rather than having them end up in landfills. They also help to reduce the demand for new car parts, which can be costly and harmful to the environment due to the production process.