- Featured Recyclers & Dismantlers
- List of Recyclers & Dismantlers
Switch Out would not be successful without the participation of recyclers and dismantlers. The efforts of all who participate are very much appreciated and we are proud to highlight the following companies.
Lecavalier Auto Parts – Ste-Sophie, QC
Founded in 1942, Lecavalier Auto Parts currently has five locations and 190 employees. Lecavalier first registered for Switch Out in 2007 and has always maintained an active presence in the program. Since registering, Lecavalier Auto Parts has collected over 500 mercury switches for the Switch Out program, ensuring that this hazardous substance doesn’t pollute the environment or endanger people’s health.
Lecavalier Auto Parts was recently the proud recipient of Quebec’s Phénix de l'Environnement award, which is the highest level of recognition in the province for environmental initiatives and sustainable practices. They were awarded this recognition for their Industrial Visit program, which facilitates educational site visits for students and repair industry professionals to teach them about the environmental benefits of using recycled auto parts.
The Switch Out team would like to congratulate Lecavalier Auto Parts for being chosen as the recipients for this prestigious award. They are setting a great example as environmentally responsible industry leaders and we are proud to have Lecavalier as participants in the Switch Out program!
Island Auto Supply – Charlottetown, PEI
Island Auto Supply has been in business for over 45 years and is one of the main auto recyclers and used parts suppliers in Prince Edward Island. The Island Auto Supply team works hard to ensure that they are always on the forefront of best industry practices, as demonstrated by their long-standing membership in the Car Heaven, Retire Your Ride and Switch Out programs. The team’s dedication to the Switch Out program is evident from the numerous collection pails placed strategically around their yard to ensure every last switch is collected and the proud participant sticker displayed in the front window of their office!
Island Auto Supply’s dedication to ensuring mercury switches are properly sequestered is especially important, given their proximity to Brakley Beach National Park – one of Canada’s natural treasures. Owner Harvey Livingstone and the Island Auto Supply team want to ensure that this beautiful natural area remains unpolluted and pristine for everyone!
The Switch Out team would like to thank Island Auto Supply for their ongoing participation in the Switch Out program.
Archived Features
Newco Metal & Auto Recycling – St. John's, NF
Our newest featured auto recycler is Newco Metal & Auto Recycling.
Located in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Newco Metal & Auto Recycling is an active participant in the Switch Out program and committed to the Zero Mercury Purchasing Policy. After joining the program in 2009, manager Paul Abbot made the effort to find out which auto recyclers in the region were actively participating in the Switch Out program. By doing so, Paul helped to ensure that Newco Metal & Auto Recycling would only purchase mercury-free scrap and maintain the company’s commitment to the Zero Mercury Purchasing Policy. They have also found a unique way of engaging employees in the program by providing a complimentary lunch as a reward for the employee who recovers the most switches every month!
Newco Metal & Auto Recycling’s actions have a direct impact on the effort to eliminate mercury contamination that would otherwise affect both people and the environment. By setting a positive example, Newco is leading the way in responsible auto recycling initiatives in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Switch Out would like to acknowledge and commend Newco Metal & Auto Recycling for their sustained dedication to the Switch Out program and Zero Mercury Purchasing Policy.
Newco Metal & Auto Recycling would like to say: “Keep recycling people!"
For more information on this business, please visit www.newcometal.com
Car-Part.com
Searching for automotive mercury switches? To assist auto recyclers, Car-Part.com has created a user-friendly tool that can significantly reduce the amount of time needed to find automotive convenience lighting switches and ABS assemblies.
This tool came to be when the consummate innovators and creators of the popular Car-Part Messaging tool realized that through their product, they could make life easier for recyclers volunteering their time to recover automotive mercury switches. As a solution, Car-Part.com made the precise locations of convenience lighting switches and ABS assemblies available, based on a search of the year, make and model of the vehicle in question. This easy-to-use tool brings added value to auto recyclers by making it easier to prevent mercury pollution.
Switch Out would like to take a moment to thank Car-Part.com for creating this valuable tool and that helps dedicated auto recyclers prevent mercury pollution.
For more information on this business, please visit www.car-part.com
Hank's Auto Wreckers – St. Clements, Ontario
Congratulations to the team at Hank’s Auto Wreckers for successfully keeping 127 grams of mercury from polluting our land, air and water! Located in St. Clements, Ontario, Hank’s Auto Wreckers has been around since 1965 with Hank and Shirley Nissen paving its way. Since then, their company has grown to cover 30 acres, of which approximately 18 acres are being used to process an average of 500 vehicles per year. They recently added an 8,000 sq. ft warehouse and are currently converting an old warehouse to hold three new dismantling bays along with their previous three. With all the new changes taking place, owner Mike Nissen along with the 19 employees at Hank’s still make time to stay true to their company’s mission, which is to “provide customers with the best possible service and value while being conscious stewards to the environment”. Their consciousness is evident not only through their involvement in the Switch Out program, but also through their participation in the national Retire Your Ride program. A big thank you to the team at Hank’s Auto Wreckers for being an active participant and supporter of the Switch Out program from the beginning! For additional information on Hank’s Auto Wreckers, please visit: Hank's Auto Wreckers
Auto Parts Network – Mount Pearl, Newfoundland
Every action counts and that’s why it is important to take the time to acknowledge people and businesses that make conscious decisions to do the right thing, especially when they are the first to do it! For this reason, Switch Out would like to recognize Auto Parts Network for having broken new ground in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador to become the first to recovery mercury through the Switch Out program! Through their voluntary participation, they reduce mercury pollution by removing automotive mercury switches. So far they have kept 82 grams of mercury from ending up in our air, lakes and rivers! It is hard to imagine what the environmental impact would be without dedicated recyclers such as Auto Part Network who continue to volunteer their time, effort and manpower to reduce mercury-contamination. Since Auto Parts Network led the way, numerous businesses in the province have come forth and registered to participate in the program.
Auto Parts Network , founded in 1996 by Glenn Hickey, supplies aftermarket sheet metal, mechanical parts, automotive accessories and processes approximately 1200 vehicles per year. Switch Out would like to greatly thank Glen Hickey, the management team (Adam Budden, Paul Fry, Jamie Stevens) and their 25 employees for their major involvement in the last year to keep Canada healthy and mercury-free.
Auto Parts Network.
Blenkhorn's Auto Recyclers Ltd. – Truro, Nova Scotia
Blenkhorn's Auto Recyclers Ltd. in Truro, Nova Scotia was founded in 1965 by Sheldon Blenkhorn and currently processes 450 cars a year. Blenkhorn's is currently owned by Sheldon, his wife Evelyn, son Paul and daughter Shelley. Blenkhorns' mission is to provide affordable vehicle repairs to the public and insurance industry and to recycle every part possible so as to keep waste to a minimum.
Blenkhorn's Auto Recyclers has been participating in the Switch Out since the program started in Nova Scotia and has safely recovered more than 175 switches since September 2007.
In addition to participating in the Switch Out program, Blenkhorn's also works to protect the environment by recycling gasoline for use in their service vehicles and by recycling all transmission and washer fluid, antifreeze and prestones. All of their tires are collected by a rubber recycler and the batteries, copper and aluminum from processed vehicles are sent to a recycling depot. Blenkhorn's is also an active participant in the Car Heaven program. For several years they have worked with their municipality to remove derelict vehicles from people's homes free of charge.
For more information, please visit their website at www.blenkhorn.com. Thank you Blenkhorn's for all if your hard work – Keep it up!
Rush's Auto Parts – Caledonia, Ontario
Operating in Caledonia, Ontario since 1987, Rush's Auto Parts is a family owned business run by the Tolfa family. Located on 14 acres of land, Rush's is run by Fabio Tofla and processes approximately 3,500 vehicles a year. This featured auto recycler is dedicated to providing high quality recycled parts at a reasonable price while having a minimal impact on the environment.
Rush's Auto Parts has been a proud participant of the Switch Out program since it started in 2001 and has collected more than 810 switches since September 2007. Rush's also works to protect the environment by ensuring that all fluids are drained and recycled using licensed processors. All dismantling is done indoors to ensure that there is no chance of environmental contamination.
For more information, please visit their website at www.rushsautoparts.com. Thanks for all of your hard work Rush's Auto Parts!
Pieces D'Autos M.S. Inc. – Ste Annes Des Lacs, Quebec
Opening an auto parts business was a life-long dream for Pieces D'Autos M.S. Inc. owner and operator Steve Lemm. He remembers being five years of age and crashing matchbox cars with a hammer and gluing them onto a piece of plywood to show his parents. After meeting his wife and co-owner, Manon Jobin, 16 years ago the couple brought his dream to life. This year they are celebrating Pieces D'Autos M.S. Inc.'s 10th anniversary. The operation has grown to include 15 employees and recycled 1,950 vehicles last year.
Pieces D'Autos M.S. Inc. is founded on having fun and working responsibly towards nature. All vehicles are emptied of oils, washer fluid and materials left by the owners before they are safely recycled. Pieces D'Autos M.S. Inc. participates in the Car Heaven program and 1877endoflifevehicles.com, and was integral in introducing Switch Out to the province of Quebec.
We would like to thank Pieces D'Autos M.S. Inc. for their dedication to the Switch Out program. Keep up the great work in 2008–2009!
Erin Auto Recyclers – Erin, Ontario
Erin Auto Recyclers is a Canadian pioneer in automotive mercury switch recovery. Owned and operated by Rob Smith and Elayne McSkimming, this Erin Township business was the first in Canada to recover mercury switches from ABS breaking assemblies.
Recovering ABS assemblies along with convenience lighting switches is an important achievement because such assemblies often contain three mercury switches that together contain over 2.5 grams of mercury, a harmful neurotoxin. These assemblies can also take more time to find and remove from end of life vehicles than other switches, proving that Erin Auto Recyclers is dedicated to their company mission of "continuously moving forward and improving upon everything that affects the environment and quality of life".
Switch Out would like to congratulate Rob, Elayne and their team of five employees for paving the way and showing that recovering ABS assemblies is part of a thorough environmental stewardship plan. As of September 2009, many other companies across Canada have followed their lead and now collect mercury- containing ABS assemblies along with convenience lighting switches as a part of Switch Out.
For more information on this business, please visit www.erinauto.com
Richmond Steel – Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond Steel, a company of Sims Metal Management, is an example of a business that recently went above and beyond to promote automotive mercury switch recovery and to change the status- quo for the better.
Over the summer of 2009 they executed, in concert with the City of Yellowknife, a processing project that saw hundreds of end of life vehicles in that city prepared for responsible recycling into new steel. They have done similar projects in other remote regions including the Yukon and Alaska in the past. This type of processing and removal project is vital in helping ensure that scrap materials are not left to deteriorate in the environment. It also helps divert thousands of tons of metal from landfills.
Before journeying to Yellowknife, Richmond Steel contacted the Switch Out program for training and collection materials because they wanted to remove mercury switches as a part of their company's commitment to recycle in an environmentally safe manner. Automotive mercury switch removal had never yet taken place in Canada's territories before this initiative and it therefore represents a positive change in the status quo regarding the environment.
Switch Out salutes Richmond Steel and its fifty employees for taking on mercury switch removal and for showing the vital role recycling businesses have in helping to properly manage resources in an environmentally friendly way.
Direct Auto Parts – St. François Xavier, Manitoba
When Switch Out recently expanded to Manitoba, Direct Auto Parts showed its enthusiasm for the program by being the first recycler in the province to sign up.
Founded in 1971, Direct Auto Parts has since grown from a single location in St. François Xavier to include a machine shop location and an installation store, both in Winnipeg. The dismantling yard, now managed by George Shea processes approximately 400 cars per year.
George and the team of 35 staff at Direct Auto are on a mission to support their families and one another while helping the environment by recycling automobiles.
The Switch Out team would like to thank the dedicated employees of Direct Auto for committing to switch removal!
For more information on this recycler, please visit www.directauto.ca.
Foothills Mechanical and Towing – Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Foothills Mechanical and Towing began as an auto repair shop in 1982 and has since evolved into a full service repair, towing and auto recycling business. The employees of Foothills focus on environmentally friendly operations and being profitable by offering efficient, professional and friendly service to their customers.
This year owners Rick and Lani Morrish and Richard and Marlene op den Dries have, along with their 15 employees, managed to safely recover 634 mercury switches, saving the equivalent of over half a kilogram of mercury from entering the environment.
Switch Out salutes the employees of Foothills Mechanical and Towing in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.
For more information on this recycler, please call (403) 845-3990.
Kenny Pièces d'Autos – Laval, Québec
Kenny Pièces d'Autos has a long history in the automotive recycling business. Started by M. Alfred Kenny in 1968, the Laval area company now employs 22 people and is owned by American Iron and Metal.
This business' dedication to mercury switch removal also has a long history as they were the first recycler to collect switches with the AQLPA, an association that fights against air pollution in Québec.
Kenny Pièces d'Autos strives to be a North American leader in recycling by banking on fairly priced, quality products, their modern facilities, their personal customer service approach and their concern for the environment. With this in mind, they have successfully removed 7,951 mercury switches since 2005. Congratulations Kenny Pièces d'Autos, you've prevented approximately 6.75 kilograms of mercury from harming the environment!
For more information on this recycler, please visit www.kennypiecesdautos.com.
Amix Salvage & Sales Ltd. – Surrey, British Columbia
Amix Salvage & Sales has been family owned and managed since Ed Jackson began operations in 1971. Now co-managed by Willy Jackson, the company has grown into a 160 employee, four division group comprised of Amix Surrey, Amix Can Am in Cassidy, Amix Heavy Lift and Amix Surplus Steel in Chilliwack. The Amix group currently processes approximately 20,000 cars per year.
The team at Switch Out would like to congratulate the employees at Amix for their dedication to preventing mercury pollution. They have collected 16,171 switches since 2005, which means they have prevented almost 14 kilograms of mercury from entering the environment!
For more information on this recycler please visit www.amix.ca.
Covey's Auto Recyclers –Blandford, Nova Scotia
Covey's Auto Recyclers is a mainstay in Eastern Canadian automotive recycling. Opened in 1960 by Hale Covey, this nearly 50 year-old business is now owned and operated by his son Derek who continues the Covey's legacy of supplying quality, environmentally friendly parts to the automotive market in a timely manner.
Covey's has the proud distinction of having participated in Switch Out since it began operating in Atlantic Canada and in 2008 their 12 employees collected 241 mercury switches. They have also participated in the Steer Clean and Car Heaven programs, demonstrating that Covey's has a top-notch environmental record.
Switch Out salutes Covey's for representing the East Coast with an excellent switch collection record!
For more information on this recycler visit www.coveys.com.
