| California salvage yards no longer resemble the | | | | incredible number of non operational vehicles that |
| bone yards they once did. Gone are the days of | | | | would come from having so many cars on the |
| junk yards and rusting hunks of metal from | | | | road. The members and associate members of |
| abandoned cars left to slowly corrode into oblivion; | | | | SCADA represent this solution. In Fact, SCADA |
| allowing the motor oils and corrosive fluids to spill | | | | has done so much to improve the environment |
| onto the ground and find their way into once | | | | for Californians that it actually received an award |
| pristine ecosystems. Today, salvage yards are | | | | for environmental awareness. The Governors |
| redefining who they are and what they do. To be | | | | Environmental and Economic Leadership Award is |
| precise and politically correct salvage yard isn't | | | | California's highest environmental award and was |
| even the correct term anymore. These days | | | | presented to SCADA for its Partners in Solutions |
| they are known as auto recycling centers and | | | | program, and was recognized as a pioneering |
| really the new name says it all and even though | | | | effort to integrate environmental values and |
| the name may have changed some, there really | | | | conservation of natural resources into long-term |
| is a misconception about the salvage yards in | | | | decision making and management of business and |
| California. They have been green for some time | | | | facilities by no less then Californias governor, |
| now. And long before it was chic to recycle, | | | | Arnold Schwarzenegger. |
| California auto recyclers were already reclaiming | | | | By working closely with the EPA, California Auto |
| the steel from junk vehicles and providing for the | | | | Recyclers are working to prevent further |
| safe handling and disposal of the oils and fluids of | | | | contamination of the beautiful state of California. |
| the vehicles they were handling. | | | | And it looks like they may be succeeding. The |
| Most salvage yards in California today belong to | | | | statistics gathered since 1997 show that just |
| SCADA (State of California Automotive | | | | over 95% of inoperable vehicles are now being |
| Dismantlers Association) and are state of the art | | | | recycled. This has resulted in reducing the overall |
| facilities that are licensed in the handling and | | | | amount of iron and aluminum that must be mined |
| disposal of hazardous materials and DOT handling | | | | each year. In the past 10 years these auto |
| and shipping of airbags among other things. | | | | recyclers have recovered enough steel to make |
| SCADA has been in existence since 1957 and | | | | 13 million new vehicles. This alone has saved an |
| they consider themselves America's first | | | | estimated 85 million barrels of oil a year that |
| recyclers. Members of SCADA are the only | | | | would have been used the manufacturing of new |
| professionally licensed and qualified industry in | | | | or replacement parts. |
| California to properly dismantle vehicles for the | | | | California recyclers are saving more than just the |
| purpose of reselling the salvaged parts. Around | | | | environment as well. Because recyclers provide |
| 200 California recyclers belong to SCADA. And | | | | wholesale and retail customers quality parts that |
| when you think of how many people own and | | | | sell for up to 50% less than new parts, they also |
| operate automobiles in the state of California, it | | | | are doing they part to help out in times of |
| becomes readily apparent that some type of | | | | economic crisis. |
| system had to be created to deal with the | | | | |