15-05-2025
Westover Auto Salvage first in western Mass. to join SHiFT vehicle retirement program
BELCHERTOWN, Mass. (WWLP) – Westover Auto Salvage has become the first automotive recycling facility in western Massachusetts to partner with the SHiFT Vehicle Retirement Initiative.
SHiFT is a national program aimed at removing End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) from roadways and supporting environmentally responsible vehicle dismantling.
The Belchertown-based company announced the milestone this week, marking a significant step forward in efforts to reduce automotive-related emissions and promote a circular economy in the region. The partnership requires participating recyclers to commit to fully retiring a vehicle's engine once it enters the SHiFT program, ensuring that high-emission, low-efficiency vehicles are permanently removed from circulation.
'At facilities like ours, we take a scientific approach to automotive recycling and a scalpel to the remains of retired vehicles to ensure as much of the ELV is recycled as possible,' said Brian Bachand, CEO of Westover Auto Salvage.
To celebrate the partnership, Westover will host an exclusive demonstration showcasing the environmentally conscious dismantling of a retired Toyota Tacoma — the first vehicle the company received through SHiFT. The event will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how ELVs are safely and scientifically depolluted, stripped for parts, and responsibly recycled.
Unlike traditional salvage operations, Westover employs a meticulous, environmentally sound approach to vehicle dismantling, minimizing waste and maximizing recyclable output. The facility is also one of just three in Massachusetts to hold a High Voltage Vehicle Certification, authorizing it to handle, depollute, and dismantle electric and hybrid vehicle batteries — a crucial capability as the transportation sector increasingly shifts toward cleaner energy.
The SHiFT initiative aligns with growing efforts nationwide to combat climate change by reducing reliance on outdated vehicles that contribute to pollution and inefficient fuel consumption.
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