The noise created by salvage yards and auto recycling facilities is unavoidable. Car crushing, shredding, dismantling, and heavy truck traffic are part of daily operations, and workers soon get used to the sounds. However, these noises travel well beyond the property line.

Nearby homes, businesses, and schools often feel the impact, and communities are raising more concerns about noise levels. Local ordinances and regulatory agencies are also placing operators under closer scrutiny, increasing the risk of fines or further restrictions.

Sound Fighter® Systems (SFS) provides proven solutions for salvage yard noise control and car recycling noise control. Our absorptive salvage yard sound barrier walls are engineered to absorb and block disruptive industrial noise, giving operators a practical way to maintain productivity while reducing the impact on surrounding properties and those who live and work in them.

Why Salvage Yard Operations Generate Excessive Noise

Industrial activity in a salvage yard results in multiple noises that create a constantly disruptive environment. Powerful machinery and repetitive processes produce sounds that are sharp and loud enough to travel long distances. Without mitigation, this noise radiates into surrounding neighborhoods, creating tension with regulators and the public.

The most common sources of salvage yard noise include:

Shears and Torches: Cutting through dense steel and vehicle frames generates loud metallic bursts of sound.
Car Crushers and Shredders: Crushing and tearing vehicles apart produces high-decibel impact sounds.
Forklifts and Loaders: Moving heavy parts and scrap piles results in frequent mechanical noise.
Hauling Trucks: The constant movement of trucks entering and leaving the facility adds diesel engine noise and brake sounds to the mix.

Unlike short-term construction projects, salvage yards operate daily, which means surrounding communities are continuously exposed to industrial noise. Over time, this increases the likelihood of complaints, regulatory action, and pressure for operators to implement permanent control measures.

What Is a Salvage Yard Sound Barrier Wall?

A salvage yard sound barrier wall is a custom-built structure designed to reduce noise transmission from industrial operations.

Standard fencing is often insufficient for sound control because it is neither tall enough to block noise nor designed to provide acoustic absorption. In contrast, a salvage yard sound barrier wall is specifically engineered to address the unique challenges of industrial noise.

Height and Coverage: Barriers are built to be high enough to disrupt line-of-sight noise paths between the facility and nearby properties.
Absorptive Performance: Specialized panels absorb sound energy, reducing the amount of noise that escapes beyond the facility.
Durability: Panels are manufactured to resist UV damage, impact, and corrosion, ensuring reliable long-term service in demanding outdoor environments.

Car Recycling Noise Barriers: Protecting Surroundings and Supporting Compliance

Car recycling facilities face unique acoustic challenges compared to general salvage yards. The crushing and shredding of vehicles produces sharp, high-decibel impact sounds that carry farther than typical mechanical noise. Without intervention, these noises quickly lead to community pushback and potential compliance issues.

A car recycling noise barrier delivers several advantages for operators. These include:

Property Protection: Reducing disruptive noise helps maintain the value and appeal of surrounding residential and commercial properties.
Community Relations: Quieter operations show neighbors and local stakeholders that the facility is committed to responsible operation.
Regulatory Compliance: A car recycling noise barrier helps facilities meet noise ordinances and avoid costly fines or restrictions.
Operational Stability: With barriers in place, operators can focus on productivity without the constant threat of noise violations.

Benefits of Sound Fighter® Systems’ Car Recycling Noise Control Solutions

Sound Fighter® Systems has designed noise barrier systems for more than five decades. Our barriers perform differently from reflective concrete or metal walls, which often bounce noise into unintended areas. By using absorptive technology, our systems directly reduce the overall sound footprint of a facility.

Clients benefit from our car recycling noise control solutions in multiple ways:

Superior Absorption: Our absorptive panels capture and reduce sound energy rather than simply redirecting it elsewhere.
Durability: Panels are resistant to UV exposure, corrosion, and heavy impact, making them suitable for industrial environments.
Lower Maintenance Costs: Salvage yard operators avoid the repeated upkeep often required by berms, fences, and other less durable materials.
Proven Performance: Decades of successful projects demonstrate measurable results in controlling noise across various industries.

Why Choose Sound Fighter® Systems?

Sound Fighter® Systems has a stellar reputation as a trusted provider of outdoor noise control. Our long history, American manufacturing, and engineering-driven approach allow us to deliver solutions our customers can rely on.

Here are some of the qualities that set us and our solutions apart:

Experience: We have five decades of experience designing and delivering noise control solutions for industrial and municipal clients.
Quality: Our products are 100% American-made, built with durable materials and craftsmanship.
Proven Technology: Initially developed by German acoustical engineers, absorptive noise barrier technology anchors our designs.
Sustainability: All our products are manufactured from 100% recycled or recyclable materials with multi-decade service lives.
Results: Municipalities, utilities, distribution centers, and recycling facilities nationwide trust our barriers. Read our case studies to discover their impact on noise control in real-world applications.
Engineering Expertise: Each project is customized to site-specific noise sources, layouts, and other requirements.
Service Commitment: From the initial consultation through installation support, our team ensures clients receive solutions tailored to their challenges and exceptional customer service.

Salvage Yard Noise Control vs. Alternative Solutions

Salvage yard operators sometimes consider alternatives such as berms, standard fences, and reflective walls. While each may provide some benefit, they also present limitations that make them less effective for industrial applications.

Berms: Large soil structures can block some sound, but they require extensive space that most salvage yards do not have available.
Standard Fencing: Traditional fencing provides security but does not reduce noise because sound passes easily through or over it.
Concrete or Metal Walls: Solid walls may block sound, but they reflect noise instead of absorbing it, which can redirect the problem into other areas.

Sound Fighter® absorptive barriers address these shortcomings. Explicitly designed for salvage yard noise control, they combine acoustic absorption with long-term durability to reduce sound levels in surrounding communities.

Designing a Custom Noise Barrier for Your Facility

No two salvage yards or recycling facilities share the same noise profile. Each has unique characteristics that contribute to the type and levels of noise produced, such as specific machinery and layout. Proximity to residential and commercial areas is also an important factor. This is why, instead of offering one-size-fits-all solutions, Sound Fighter® Systems develops custom solutions for every project.

Our approach is comprehensive and built on decades of engineering experience:

Site Analysis: We begin by evaluating the facility’s operations, equipment, and nearby properties.
Engineering Design: Our team designs a barrier system that meets acoustic goals as well as structural and regulatory requirements.
Installation Support: We assist contractors in the field to ensure proper installation and long-term performance.

Design considerations include barrier height, material type, and placement around primary noise sources. Aesthetic preferences and security needs are also factored in to ensure the barrier integrates well into the site.

Protect Your Business and Community From Industrial Noise

Salvage yards and car recycling facilities cannot operate without generating noise, but they can choose how to manage it. Addressing noise strengthens compliance with local ordinances, builds better relations with neighbors, and reduces the risk of operational restrictions.

Sound Fighter® Systems is America’s oldest manufacturer of sound-absorptive outdoor noise treatments. For more than 50 years, we have pioneered the use of absorptive technology to solve challenging environmental noise problems. Our barriers remain the benchmark for durability, performance, and long-term reliability across industries.

To speak with our team about options for your facility, fill out our online form or call 1-866-348-0833. We will work with you to design and deliver a noise control solution that protects your operations and your community.