Whether you move to a new state, buy a new car, or want to update your vehicle’s style, there are many reasons to get a new license plate. But after some time, you are bound to wind up with a pile of license plates in storage. You can’t just throw them in the trash because that could lead to theft. And they really can’t serve a secondary purpose unless you use them for art decor. So how do you dispose of license plates safely and responsibly? Well license plates made of aluminum metal, so you can just recycle them!
Continue reading to learn how to recycle old license plates in your hometown.
Recycle License Plates
In the past, license plates were made from various other metals and metal alloys, as well as a few non-metal materials that may surprise you, including tin, porcelain, steel, and even soy-based fiberboard! But today, modern license plates are all made from aluminum, so they are a perfect commodity for recycling.
You have 3 basic options for recycling or safely disposing old license plates:
❶ Visit your local DMV and return your old license plates. They will recycle them accordingly.
❷ Mail your old license plates into your local DMV. Be sure to get proper address information.
❸ Contact a local scrap metal recycling company to sell your license plates for cash on the spot!
Aluminum Metal Recycling
Aluminum is among the most recyclable metals on earth! Recycling aluminum saves an enormous amount of energy because it reduces the need to manufacture metal from virgin materials. It is even reported that carbon emissions are reduced by up to 85% when recycled aluminum are used in manufactured products. Any scrap metal recycling center will accept your old license plates, as well as, any other aluminum-containing objects, such as food cans, auto parts, ladders, bike frames, plumbing fixtures, window frames, and even utensils!