Car Removal Adelaide reports Australia’s annual vehicle waste at 1.36 million tonnes

ADELAIDE, Australia – September 4, 2026 – Car Removal Adelaide has issued an industry-focused review of Australia’s end-of-life vehicle waste, drawing attention to research estimating that approximately 850,000 vehicles reach the end of their service life each year and account for around 1.36 million tonnes of waste. The review was issued in Adelaide on September 4, 2026, to provide context on the scale of vehicle waste and the material recovery issues associated with vehicles leaving active use.
The figures originate from research conducted by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA). The study estimates that approximately five per cent of Australia's motor vehicles reach end of life each year, representing about 850,000 individual vehicles and approximately 1.36 million tonnes of waste. The figure includes vehicles written off after accidents as well as vehicles that have reached the end of their operating lives.
The research provides a picture of how end-of-life vehicles are currently managed across Australia. Around 70 per cent of the waste associated with these vehicles is estimated to be recovered, while the remaining material is primarily directed to landfill. The study identifies non-metal materials as an important area for improvement because suitable processing options are not always technically feasible or economically viable for dismantlers and recyclers.
End-of-life vehicles contain a mixture of materials with different recovery pathways. Metals such as steel and aluminium can enter established recycling processes, while some mechanical and vehicle components may be suitable for reuse depending on their condition and application. Other materials, including plastics, glass and composite components, can present different processing requirements.
The research also identifies structural challenges within Australia's vehicle dismantling and recycling sector. These include the country's diverse vehicle fleet, a fragmented industry structure and limited processing capability for some non-metal materials. The study examined a potential product stewardship approach, under which participants across the vehicle lifecycle would share responsibility for improving end-of-life outcomes.
Product stewardship has also become relevant as Australia's vehicle fleet changes. Hybrid and electric vehicles contain components that require additional consideration when vehicles reach the end of their useful lives. In its National Electric Vehicle Strategy, the Australian Government identified recycling, reuse and disposal standards for vehicles and components such as batteries as important elements of resource efficiency and preparation for emerging waste streams.
The wider automotive waste stream includes tyres, which require separate recovery and management pathways. Australian Government national waste reporting estimated that approximately 495,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres were generated during 2022–23. The same reporting estimated a 56 per cent resource recovery rate, combining recycling and energy recovery.
The 1.36 million-tonne estimate provides a measure of the material entering Australia's end-of-life vehicle system each year. It also illustrates why vehicle disposal involves more than the removal of a vehicle from the road. Dismantling, component separation, material sorting and the management of residual waste all influence how much of a vehicle can be recovered.
The review places particular attention on the distinction between vehicle removal and the wider resource recovery process. Once an end-of-life vehicle leaves active use, its remaining materials can move through several different pathways depending on condition, composition, processing capability and applicable requirements.
Further development of recovery infrastructure, consistent industry practices and appropriate management pathways could influence the amount of vehicle-related material diverted from landfill. The issue is expected to remain relevant as Australia's vehicle fleet changes and newer technologies introduce additional components and material streams.
About Car Removal Adelaide
Car Removal Adelaide is an Adelaide-based vehicle removal business operating in South Australia. The business is located in Wingfield and handles unwanted, damaged and end-of-life vehicles within the broader vehicle removal and dismantling sector.