Managing and remaking metals

Who knew a hundred years ago that just under half of a 2001 model year vehicle would be manufactured out of dismantled, flattened, and shredded older vehicles?

In a time of limited and more limited resources, it is important to give back what has been taken. While a house will stand and serve its purpose for decades and even centuries, technology changes too fast to expect the same of a car. We want them faster, stronger, smarter. After they've become slower, weaker, dumber, we give them to our teenagers and buy a new one. Or we trade them in for something quieter, safer, sleeker. But in case what we bought originally was not destined to become a classic car, chances are it will eventually have to be disposed of.

Fortunately there are laws against driving a car out onto the Alaskan tundra and abandoning it when it becomes too old. We must come up with other ways, and we have.