Ahead of Global Car Recycling Day on June 20, the company says that whilst it has always been a big supplier of affordable recycled car parts, it has seen a 31% increase in sales since the end of 2023, and a 48% increase comparing 2023 to 2026 year to date.  Drivers and garages are looking for cheaper alternatives to expensive new components and long manufacturer wait times.

 

Silverlake, which employs 170 staff and operates from Southampton, supplied more than 129,000 quality-graded, warranty assured and provenance tested recycled vehicle parts last year to motorists and garages across Hampshire and beyond.  Customers enjoy savings of up to 70% compared with buying new replacement parts.  The company’s services are helping regional bodyshops facing increasing pressure from rising parts prices and supply chain delays. Commonly requested recycled components include engines, gearboxes, bumpers, doors, panels and bonnets, wing mirrors, and headlights whilst the most commonly recycled vehicle processed in Southampton is the Volkswagon Golf.

 

Neil Joslin, Director at Silverlake Automotive Recycling, said:

 

“We’re seeing more drivers choosing recycled parts because people are keeping vehicles for longer and looking for ways to reduce repair costs.  It makes perfect sense: why fit and pay for a brand-new part on a vehicle which is, say, 10 years old, when there is an excellent alternative at a fraction of the cost?

 

“In many cases, quality recycled components can save motorists hundreds of pounds compared with buying new parts, while also helping reduce waste and unnecessary emissions.

 

“Local repairers are also relying more on recycled parts to help keep vehicles on the road, from crashes to MOT failures, and reduce delays caused by shortages of new components.”

 

Each year, millions of vehicles reach the end of their lives in the UK, creating significant environmental challenges as well as opportunities to recover reusable materials and components.

 

Silverlake processed over 37,000 vehicles during the past year, recovering parts, catalytic converters, electric vehicle batteries, tyres and raw materials including steel, aluminium, plastics and copper wiring for reuse and recycling.  Reusing vehicle parts can significantly reduce the demand upon the earth’s natural resources as well as the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing new components, and recycling supports wider regional sustainability efforts including reducing waste to landfill.  Silverlake’s estimated CO2 savings for the last 12 months amount to 70,000 tonnes.  Monitored by the Environment Agency, the company recycles over 95% of every vehicle it processes, amounting to over 45,000 tonnes of material in the past year.

 

The business also operates a best price car buying service and an online salvage auction platform, SalvageMarket, where repairable vehicles can be resold and returned to the road, alongside its self-service U-Pick-It breakers yard, where customers can remove parts directly from vehicles.

 

To mark Global Car Recycling Day 2026, the company is offering a 25% discount on parts retrieved from its U-Pick-It breakers yard with code GCRD2026.