Everything we write on this site is backed by publicly available data. Below are the primary external sources we reference, organized by category. If you are a researcher, journalist, or just someone who wants to verify a claim we made, these are the places to start.
Industry Organizations
- Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC)
- The national association representing auto recyclers across Canada. ARC administers the voluntary ARS certification program, publishes industry statistics, and advocates for consistent end-of-life vehicle policy. Their data on recovery rates and member yard practices is the most reliable industry-side source in the country. If you want to understand what the organized, compliant end of the industry looks like, start here.
- World Steel Association
- The global steel industry's data clearinghouse. Their recycling statistics are referenced throughout our steel recycling coverage — particularly the figure that recycling one tonne of steel saves roughly 1.5 tonnes of CO2 versus virgin production. worldsteel.org publishes annual sustainability indicators and methodology papers that hold up to scrutiny. The numbers are conservative, which is why we trust them.
Federal Government
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
- The federal department responsible for environmental regulation, including hazardous waste management and pollutant reporting. ECCC sets the overarching framework within which provinces regulate auto recyclers — particularly around fluids like antifreeze, mercury switches, and refrigerants. Their National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) is a useful tool for checking what industrial facilities actually report.
- Statistics Canada
- The source for vehicle registration counts, scrappage estimates, and economic data on the automotive sector. When we cite the number of vehicles reaching end of life in Canada each year, or the economic value of the auto recycling sector, StatCan is the primary reference. Their CANSIM tables on motor vehicle registrations and the Annual Survey of Manufactures cover the data foundations.
Provincial Regulators
Auto recycling in Canada is primarily regulated at the provincial level. Each province sets its own environmental compliance requirements for salvage yards, covering everything from stormwater management to fluid storage to site remediation. Here are three key provincial programs we reference most often:
- Ontario Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA)
- In Ontario, auto recyclers need an Environmental Compliance Approval from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to handle waste and manage air, noise, and water discharges. The ECA process is detailed in our provincial comparison coverage. Ontario has some of the most prescriptive requirements in the country — which is why the "unregulated junkyard" narrative rings especially hollow here.
- RECYC-QUEBEC
- Quebec's public agency responsible for waste management and recycling policy. RECYC-QUEBEC publishes detailed data on material recovery rates by sector, including automotive. Their biennial characterization studies are the best provincial-level recycling performance data available in Canada. Quebec also runs extended producer responsibility programs that intersect with end-of-life vehicle management.
- BC Product Stewardship
- British Columbia's product stewardship framework covers automotive fluids (oil, antifreeze, filters) through designated stewardship programs. The BC model is industry-funded and has been running long enough to have solid performance data. Their approach to tire recycling and used oil recovery is referenced in our coverage of the hard-to-recycle materials that auto recyclers handle daily.
Using These Sources
We link directly to source data throughout our articles. If a specific claim on this site does not have an inline citation and you want to verify it, let us know — we will either add the reference or correct the claim. We take sourcing seriously because the auto recycling industry already fights an uphill battle against lazy stereotypes. Bad data does not help.
For our editorial perspective on how these sources connect to the broader story of auto recycling in Canada, see our about page. For the data-heavy pieces themselves, the carbon math article and the regulations overview are the best starting points.