If you have an old car that's been taking up space in your driveway, trying to sell it in a lackluster economy could be next to impossible. Worse yet, if the car is in bad shape, there aren't too many people that would be willing to take on a fixer-upper unless it is a rare vehicle. Car recycling has become a viable alternative for individuals who are looking to get some money out of a car that has seen better days, and in particular, car recyclers in Canada are experiencing a boom that is putting money in driver's pockets and removing tons of spent material from local landfills, according to MetroNews.ca.

"First, they'll remove any parts that can be directly resold," Steve Fletcher, managing director of the Automotive Recyclers of Canada, told the news source. "Engines, transmissions, mirrors, taillights, anything that doesn't have to be reworked and can be directly reused."

Even the internal fluids, antifreeze, transmission oil, brake fluid, washer fluid and engine oil can be put into new vehicles if it is fresh enough. If not, these essentials will be properly recycled and refined into new products. Best of all, auto recyclers will remove and dispose of products that are made with hazardous materials, such as mercury-filled switches that are sometimes prevalent in older vehicles, making it a sustainable step for car owners.

"Once you factor in the the parts we take out, such as tires and reusable parts, up to 83 percent of the vehicle is recycled," Fletcher told the news source. "You get about $500 to $600 for the metal in a flattened hulk for about $100 in time and effort, so a car has positive value."