Scrap-It to save it

You may be familiar with a long-standing "car scrap" program, the Kidney Car program that was started in 1993 in Calgary. Through this program, old or unwanted vehicles are towed free of charge and recycled or sold for re-use, and you receive a minimum tax receipt for supporting the Kidney Foundation of Canada. For nearly 30 years, this has been an excellent option to dispose of unwanted vehicles while supporting a good cause.

With current interest in all things electric, another program has just launched in Alberta.

SCRAP-IT, the first program of its kind in Canada, was modeled after a similar Voluntary Accelerated Vehicle Retirement (VAVR) program in the United States. A not-for-profit air-emissions reduction program, SCRAP-IT was designed to facilitate the accelerated transition of program participants from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to cleaner forms of personal transportation.

In 2021, the Society celebrated its 50,000 scrapped vehicles milestone.

SCRAP-IT is now registered and operating in Alberta.

We believe we can make the same positive climate change and environmental impacts here in Alberta as we have seen in BC.

The program focuses on adoption of clean technologies (BEV, PHEV vehicles and charging equipment). We produce measurable CO2 (greenhouse gas emissions) and exhaust pollutant reductions, accelerated fleet renewal (early retirement) and manage the end-of-life for ICE vehicles.

The Society partners with private organizations such as car dealers, electric bike retailers, car share companies, transit companies and scrap suppliers province-wide to achieve its goals. These partnerships help SCRAP-IT offer multiple and innovative clean transportation options (including rebates).

All scrapped vehicles are permanently dismantled, crushed, shredded and sold into secondary metal markets. Prior to shredding, all dismantling, draining of fluids, etc. is undertaken and meets the environmental requirements of the Canadian Auto Recyclers’ Environmental Code (CAREC).

Replacing a fossil fuel burning vehicle with a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric will have a significant impact on carbon and GHG reduction.

From January 1, 2015, to May 1, 2020, SCRAP-IT has removed 6,251 ICE vehicles off the road permanently and replaced them with battery electric vehicles. The result of this is a reduction of 75,912 metric tonnes of CO2. A significant achievement—imagine 75,912 hot air balloons in the sky all at once!

Alberta residents know there’s an issue, and some may wonder: “Yes, but what can I do about it?”

When they look around their home and think about their own personal carbon footprint, the most important thing they can do (aside from home heating) is consider their personal transportation choice.

This post was submitted by Diane Roberts, CEO of Scrap-It. If you live in Edmonton or have a business here and have a climate change story to tell, let us know! Your story could be shared here too.