Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the Most Common DPF Recycling Questions
Frequently Asked DPF and DOC Recycling Questions
Every month we receive hundreds of phone and email questions about DPF and DOC recycling. Here are answers to some of the most common questions. In addition, you might review our Ultimate Guide to DPF Recycling.
YES. In a letter written directly to Red Fox Resources from the California Air Resources Board on October 6, 2015, the Chief of the Emissions Compliance, Automotive Regulations and Science Division, expresses in writing that the practice of selling a used DPF or DOC for the purpose of recycling DPFs is allowed. Download a copy of the CARB letter here.
NO. According to Title 13, CCR, Section 2706, “No party shall advertise, sell, lease, or offer for sale or lease, a used verified diesel emission control strategy.” It is, therefore, illegal to sell a used DOC or DPF. Quoting from the California Air Resources Board’s website, “It is never legal to install a USED filter, your vehicle WILL NOT be in compliance.”
It is not recommended to landfill spent DOCs or DPFs. Both DOCs and DPFs may contain hazardous waste, primarily in the form of zinc from lubricating oil. Contact Red Fox for information on determining if your DPFs and DOCs need to be treated as hazardous waste. Additionally, by landfilling your spent parts you could be throwing money away as many DPFs and DOCs have a recycle value. Red Fox Resources does not landfill any collected materials.
The California Air Resources Board has come out and said that spent DPFs and DOCs should never be thrown away.
It is not recommended to scrap DOCs or DPFs. In Title 22, CCR, Chapter 23, “scrap metal” is defined to EXCLUDE “any metal contaminated with a hazardous waste, such that the contaminated metal exhibits any characteristic of a hazardous waste under article 3 of chapter 11 of this division.” Zinc is listed as a hazardous waste under article 3 of chapter 11. Therefore, used DPFs and DOCs should not be treated as scrap metal to be recycled with a scrap metal recycler. Contact Red Fox for information on determining if your DPFs and DOCs need to be treated as hazardous waste.
Also, recycling DPFs and DOCs for precious metals reclamation can provide up to 100 times the monetary value as processing them as scrap metal.
Red Fox Resources will collect and recycle your parts with compliant practices and pay you in the cases where the parts hold residual value.
Nothing. In fact, your used DOCs and DPFs may contain precious metals that can be recovered and reused. Red Fox will pay you for your used DOCs and DPFs. Rates vary depending on the part make, model, and size. Read more about prices paid for recycled DPFs and DOCs.
Rates vary based on part make, model, size as well as the market price of Platinum Group Metals (PGM). Generally, parts containing residual PGM can be worth $20 – $900. Contact Red Fox Resources to get values for individual parts. Read more about prices paid for scrap DPFs and DOCs.
Red Fox will pay you for your parts within 15 days of receiving your parts. Checks sent from Red Fox expire in 90 days.
YES. We understand core exchange programs, however, many times the OEM core acceptance policies do not apply to cores that have been damaged, Red Fox accepts all spent emission parts regardless of condition. Also, many times OEM core programs may be uneconomical and recycling can provide you with a higher value (with less headache) than an OEM core exchange program. For those cases, recycling with Red Fox is your solution.
YES. Red Fox will pay the shipping costs and handle all the logistics of getting your parts to us. Unfortunately, due to the economics of shipping, we are not able to work with individual, single unit owners. Shipping costs require a minimum of 5 DPFs/DOCs per shipment. [Watch video on DPF packing process] If you have a local dealer, owner’s group, or owner’s club to pool shipments, we’d be very interested in discussing our recycling program. Please give us a call!
DPF and DOC parts collected by Red Fox Resources are typically recycled and not resold. When a part is purchased by Red Fox for recycling, the substrate material is removed from the can and is pulverized and smelted to recover any PGM. The remaining steel can is recycled through a metals recycler. No materials collected by Red Fox are sent to the landfill.
Each manufacturer imprints the part number in a unique location on the DPF or DOC and some manufacturers tack weld a data tag to the part that would contain the DPF. Many times, there are multiple part numbers listed on a single part along with a serial number. For generating a recycling price estimate, the serial number is irrelevant and what Red Fox is looking for would be any of the part numbers listed. Usually the part numbers would follow the acronyms CPN or EPN. For a more detailed explanation of how to find part numbers, see our DPF part number explainer video on Youtube or our blog post on this topic.
Red Fox makes all payments via company check. Checks sent by Red Fox expire in 90 days.
NO. To ensure proper documentation of each transaction, Red Fox only issues payment via company check. Checks sent by Red Fox expire in 90 days.
It’s very simple. Watch our 2-minute video and you’ll be good to go!
No. SCR systems are generally coated in copper zeolite and not platinum group metals, so there is very little recycle value. Our recommendation is to process SCR systems with your standard scrap metal.
No. “DPF Delete Kits” are illegal and Red Fox does not buy back parts that result from deleting your emission control system.
Our track record of working with industry leaders in the truck, bus, and heavy equipment space speaks for itself. Brands like Volvo, Mack, and Paccar have worked with Red Fox because we offer a professional solution to managing their platinum group metals (PGM) bearing waste. Learn more about Red Fox customers here.
Because of shipping costs, we are not able to setup shipments for loads consisting of less than 10 parts. However, Red Fox has partnered with DPF Alternatives to recycle parts for individuals or businesses that have less than 10 parts. You can drop any quantity of parts off at any DPF Alternatives Location. Additionally, DPF Alternatives will arrange for a free pickup in their service areas.
Yes. However the shipments may be subject to higher minimum quantities than in the United States.
Yes. Red Fox recycles catalytic converters from businesses. Please see our Automotive page for details on our processes of buying catalytic converters.
No. Red Fox only works with businesses looking to recycle 15+ emissions control parts per lot or shipment. However, this article helps pickup truck owners with resources for recycling single DPFs and DOCs.