Salvage yards, ideally, are in some ways are beneficial to the environment
. They lessen the number of items being stored in landfills and encourage recycling through the sale of auto parts and scrap metals. However it has been shown that some of these salvage yards may actually add to environmental pollution through waste mismanagement and improper storage methods. Because of this the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and other environmental agencies make it their duty to keep owners of salvage yards informed of the potential for environmental pollution. Where as landfills will induce environmental pollution by the production of methane from the decomposition of organic matter and the indirect contamination of underground water systems, salvage yards may create environmental pollution by some of the processes that they may carry out on a regular basis.
A normal salvage yard will acquire vehicles that are no longer in use. These vehicles will be stored in open lots where they will be pulled down as the need arises or before a demand is generated and placed in show rooms. However during the process of dismantling these vehicles contamination of the environment may manifest through the drainage of dangerous toxic fluids. Because of this most salvage yards are required to get official licensing from the corresponding state department. The licensing of these salvage yards has been established to ensure that the lots and indeed the operations on a whole meet the predetermined standards.
The function of a salvage yard is still very important. It is estimated that millions of cars are manufactured yearly; many of these will end up in salvage yards that will recycle their parts and metals for future or immediate use. In states like Louisiana, the objective is to make certain that these salvage yards operate within environmentally friendly conditions. Specific laws have been drafted and passed which dictate how industries must perform waste management. These laws are very essential in the fight against environmental pollution.