What do you do with old parts?

Now that I�m doing my own wrenching, the old parts are starting to pile up in my garage. Oil will be recycled. My rusty old old mufflers can probably go to a scrap yard. What about smaller parts like spark plugs, coils, motor mounts etc? Do you just send them to the landfill or is there a way to recycle them for their metal content?

I generally toss them, but depending on the parts I may offer them to other forum members for free (if they'll cover shipping). Sometimes guys want to use them for projects. I'm sending my old clutch master cylinder and brake cylinder to one of the members this weekend so he can practice rebuilding them. Little stuff like plugs and coils usually just gets tossed in the trash. But if there was a better disposal option, I'd like to know.

spark plugs and dead coils???? come on...throw that trash where it belongs.

I have a "shelf of shame" to remind me of my mistakes and take my time. I intend to turn it into a wall one day. I've given odds and ends to a friend that does some sculpting. You could post them up for free on a trading site.

My local recycler wont take car parts, but does take all fluids. I take in big metal parts like clutches and brake drums & they say ok. Because it just a big hunk of metal. Auto electronics, like modules, get sorted out & go to the electronics pile. I think they dont want big car parts & upholstery, etc.. Should go to the auto scrape yard. Little stuff goes in the trash unfortunately

I recycle the cardboard boxes. Metal parts go in the metal bin at the transfer station. We have a place for used oil and antifreeze. Electronics and batteries have a place as well. Usually I leave the old batteries at Batteries Plus for cores. Spark plugs end up in the trash for lack of a better place as well as any packing peanuts and plastic bags. Our town also has a container for used oil filters as well.

I work on lots of different makes. Cardboard boxes are recycled. Large metal pieces (exhaust pipes, control arms, AC compressors, radiators, condensers, body parts, brackets, brake rotors, etc) are given to someone who comes by every Thursday evening. He takes them and sells them for scrap. The same guy picks up my old cats. He definitely likes me. Used oil is kept in 5 gallon jugs and eventually disposed of at a local oil change place, or Autozone. Brake fluid is stored indefinitely because no one will take it, not even the local recycling center. I have about 5 gallons of it unfortunately. Coolant is kept in a 5 gallon jug and is eventually recycled at the local recycling center. Tires are also taken to the recycling center. (They charge a fee for tires and batteries ) Small parts like coils, plugs, hoses, belts, etc are thrown away in the trash. Porsche parts are different. Porsche suspension parts are tossed into a box and seldom looked at. Electrical parts are tossed in a separate box for future dissection. Some used parts are kept in case someone needs something "just to keep it running." I stock a lot of new Porsche parts.(including suspension, electrical, gaskets, etc) I have some used parts.

Trash.

Quotes source post: 16925918

What happens to other pets????

I cook them with a little lemon and butter, and then I have cake!

Hey tex, water down your engine oil with the brake fluid. The recycle company that picks up from autozone wont care. My brake fluid goes with all my othrr oils to a local shop for winter waste oil heater fuel. It all burns. all my steel goes to the scap yard in my dump trailer at about 6-8k lbs a load. I think i do too much side work because i haul that traiker over ther about twice a year.

Thanks everybody. It sounds like I just have to pitch some of these parts. No big deal, but I didn�t want to be needlessly wasteful.