in Colorado they will haul off a car with no title ....they have to hold it at the crusher yard for so many days to see if someone claims it or if any problems arise but if in that time nobody sees it or makes waves ...its gone
Like Inkjunkie said, many states require a title to scrap a vehicle.
The only way to get around it, is to cut the vehicle into pieces. Many people don't want to have to go through that crap, just to clean up a junk car, so they'll sell or give it to someone else to get it out of their hair.