Automotive Plastic Part Recycling: How OEMs Can Cut Waste and Costs with Seraphim Plastics

By Seraphim Plastics | October 26, 2025

The automotive industry is evolving rapidly — shifting toward lightweight materials, sustainable manufacturing, and circular production models. Yet one major opportunity remains overlooked: automotive plastic part recycling.

Every day, OEM part manufacturers and tier suppliers across the country generate tons of clean plastic scrap — bumpers, dashboards, interior panels, and purge from molding machines — that too often ends up in dumpsters.

At Seraphim Plastics, we help turn this hidden waste into profit. By recycling post-industrial automotive plastics, OEM facilities can reduce disposal costs, recover material value, and meet sustainability goals without disrupting production.

The Plastic Parts Driving the Automotive Industry — and the Scrap They Create

Modern vehicles are roughly 50% plastic by volume but only about 10% by weight. From the exterior body to the wiring harness clips inside, plastics are everywhere — and every stage of production generates recyclable material.

Here are some of the most common automotive plastic parts that can be recycled through Seraphim Plastics:

Exterior Components

  • Bumpers and bumper covers – typically made from PP (polypropylene) or ABS

  • Grilles and fenders – often PP or Nylon blends

  • Mirror housings and exterior trims – PP and ABS

  • Plastic fuel tanks and filler housings – HDPE

Interior Components

  • Dashboards and instrument panels – ABS or PC/ABS

  • Door panels and consoles – PP or ABS blends

  • Seat backs, clips, and fasteners – PP, Nylon

  • HVAC vents and interior bezels – ABS or HDPE

Under-the-Hood Components

  • Air filter boxes and ducting – PP or Nylon

  • Battery housings and cases – PP and HDPE

  • Coolant and washer fluid reservoirs – HDPE

  • Engine covers and fan shrouds – Nylon and PP

Packaging and Material Handling

  • Plastic pallets, bins, and totes used for part shipping

  • Protective dunnage, trays, and inserts used in logistics

  • Stretch film, shrink wrap, and liners – LDPE

These materials are often generated as:

  • Molding purge, runners, and sprues

  • Defective or off-spec parts rejected in QA

  • Outdated or damaged packaging

  • Production trim or cut-offs

All of these forms can be recycled efficiently when clean and single-resin — which is exactly what Seraphim Plastics specializes in.

Why Throwing Automotive Plastic Away Costs More Than You Think

Many OEM suppliers still pay to dispose of valuable plastic scrap. Between hauling fees, landfill surcharges, and lost resin value, that waste adds up fast.

By recycling with Seraphim Plastics, automotive manufacturers can:

  • Earn money for clean, segregated plastic scrap

  • Eliminate landfill and waste hauling expenses

  • Recover usable resin for reintroduction into the supply chain

  • Demonstrate sustainability to OEM partners and regulators

In short — recycling turns a costly byproduct into a revenue-generating resource.

How Seraphim Plastics Supports Automotive OEM Recycling Programs

Seraphim Plastics provides industrial-scale recycling solutions designed for manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive supply chain.

We purchase, pick up, and process:

Once collected, these plastics are ground and processed into high-quality regrind and pellets that re-enter the manufacturing cycle — reducing the need for virgin resin and helping close the materials loop within the industry.

Benefits of Recycling Automotive Plastic Parts with Seraphim Plastics

1. Proven Industrial Expertise

We work with OEM suppliers, injection molders, and logistics centers across the Southeast. Our process is built around industrial recycling — no mixed consumer plastics, no contamination, no wasted time.

2. Reliable Pickup and Payment

We buy directly from manufacturers, not through brokers. That means fast pickup, transparent pricing, and a direct path from your facility to our processing centers.

3. Sustainability That Scales

Seraphim Plastics helps automotive brands and suppliers meet ISO 14001 and IATF 16949 sustainability standards by diverting thousands of pounds of clean scrap from landfills each month.

4. Domestic, Closed-Loop Recycling

All materials are processed domestically — supporting U.S. manufacturing and reducing dependence on overseas resin markets.

Closing the Loop in Automotive Manufacturing

Every recycled bumper, dashboard, or battery housing contributes to a cleaner, more efficient supply chain. By partnering with Seraphim Plastics, automotive part suppliers can:

  • Reduce material costs through regrind supply

  • Support OEM sustainability initiatives

  • Achieve measurable waste reduction goals

  • Protect brand reputation with verifiable recycling practices

Our mission is simple: help manufacturers turn industrial scrap into valuable raw material again — safely, locally, and profitably.

Partner With Seraphim Plastics for Automotive Plastic Recycling

If your automotive manufacturing facility, molding operation, or OEM parts distribution center generates clean, single-type plastic scrap, Seraphim Plastics can help turn that waste into profit.

We proudly serve Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and surrounding regions, offering efficient pickup and reliable recycling for the automotive supply chain.

Contact Seraphim Plastics today to start recycling your automotive plastic parts responsibly.
➡️ Visit SeraphimPlastics.com to request a quote or schedule a pickup.

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