When you look at a car that’s reached the end of its life, it’s easy to see just the steel, glass, and rubber. But at Car Removal Perth, we know the most critical part of our job lies in what you can't see. Hidden within every end-of-life vehicle is a cocktail of hazardous fluids that, if handled improperly, can cause lasting damage to our environment and pose a serious risk to human health.
The process of safely removing these liquids is known as depollution, or fluid draining. It’s not just a box to tick; it’s the most important first step in the entire auto recycling chain. It’s a demonstration of our commitment to the safety of our team, our community, and the beautiful Western Australian environment we all call home.
The Cocktail of Chemicals: Identifying the Fluids in a Car
A car is a complex machine, and it relies on a whole host of powerful liquids to run. When a car is ready to be scrapped, these fluids become potential hazards that must be managed with expertise and care.
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Fuels and Oils: Highly flammable petrol and diesel, along with engine oil, transmission fluid, and gear oil. These petroleum products are potent pollutants, toxic to wildlife and containing heavy metal contaminants from engine wear.
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Coolants: Engine antifreeze typically contains ethylene glycol, a chemical that is notoriously sweet-smelling and tragically appealing to pets and wildlife, but is highly toxic and can be fatal if ingested.
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Other System Fluids: Corrosive brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer solvents which often contain toxic methanol.
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Acids and Gases: The sulphuric acid in a car battery is incredibly corrosive. Furthermore, the refrigerants in the air conditioning system are powerful greenhouse gases that must be captured by specialised equipment, never released into the atmosphere.
The Environmental Stakes: Protecting Perth’s Natural Beauty
Improper fluid draining isn’t just messy; it’s an ecological threat. We’ve all seen the rainbow sheen of oil in a puddle, but the real damage runs much deeper.
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Protecting Our Soil and Water: It’s a well-known fact that a single litre of used motor oil can contaminate up to one million litres of fresh water. When these fluids are spilled, they can seep into the ground, poisoning the soil and eventually leaching into our precious groundwater reserves and flowing into the Swan and Canning Rivers. This harms aquatic life and disrupts the entire ecosystem.
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Preserving Our Clean Air: When fuels evaporate, they release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air, contributing to air pollution. Even more damaging is the release of air conditioning refrigerants, which have a global warming potential hundreds of times greater than carbon dioxide.
At Car Removal Perth, our strict depollution process is our front line of defence in protecting WA’s environment from these preventable threats.
The Human Element: Keeping Our Team Safe
Our most valuable asset is our team of skilled technicians. Their health and safety are paramount, and safe fluid draining is a cornerstone of a safe workplace in our industry.
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Fire Prevention: A workshop full of fuel vapours is an accident waiting to happen. The risk of a stray spark from a tool igniting these fumes is very real. Our protocols are designed to eliminate this risk entirely.
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Chemical Exposure: Direct contact with these fluids can cause everything from skin rashes to severe chemical burns. Inhaling the fumes can lead to serious respiratory issues. We ensure our team is protected from these daily risks.
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Physical Safety: Spilled oil and coolant create dangerously slick surfaces, a leading cause of slips, trips, and falls. A clean and dry workshop is a safe workshop.
This is why we equip our team with the best Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), from chemical-resistant gloves and safety goggles to specialised respirators and boots. A safe process is just as important as an efficient one.
The Right Way: Our Process and Equipment
Saying you’re responsible is one thing; investing in the process and equipment to back it up is another. At Car Removal Perth, we’ve built our operations around best practices.
It starts at our dedicated draining station, which features an impermeable concrete floor and a full spill containment system. This ensures that any accidental drips are captured before they ever have a chance to touch the ground.
We use specialised equipment, including a fluid recovery tower with pneumatic pumps and sealed hoses that connect directly to the vehicle. This minimises spills and vapours. A separate, EPA-approved machine is used exclusively to capture A/C refrigerants safely.
Our standard operating procedure is uncompromising:
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The vehicle is secured on the station.
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The battery is immediately disconnected and removed to eliminate ignition sources.
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Each fluid is systematically drained into its own clearly labelled, sealed container. This separation is crucial for proper recycling.
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A final inspection ensures every reservoir is empty.
Closing the Loop: Compliant Disposal and Your Peace of Mind
Our responsibility doesn’t end when the fluids are out of the car. We adhere to all state and federal regulations for the storage and disposal of hazardous waste. We partner with fully licensed and certified waste handlers who specialise in recycling used oils, coolants, and other automotive fluids.
When you call Car Removal Perth for our cash for car removal service, you’re not just getting a great price for your old vehicle. You are choosing a partner who guarantees your car will be handled in the most environmentally and socially responsible way possible. You get the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’ve made the right choice—for your wallet, and for our shared Perth environment.
Safe fluid draining isn't the most glamorous part of auto recycling, but it is the most important. It’s a direct reflection of a company's character and its commitment to doing things the right way.
If you have an end-of-life vehicle and want to ensure it’s handled with this level of professional care, call Car Removal Perth today on 0412-119-053. Let us turn your old car into cash, responsibly