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Auto Mercury-Recovery Program Hits Milestone

This photo shows a small light fixture under a car hood that uses a mercury switch to turn on when the hood is opened.
Highlights

Fact Sheet: Partnership Recovers One Million Switches

Press Release

Administrator Stephen Johnson announced on February 29, at an event in Georgia, a major milestone for the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP). Since the program was created in August 2006, one million mercury automobile switches have been collected, preventing more than one ton of mercury from being released into the environment.

"By pulling mercury switches before they enter the recycling system, we are improving the health of our environment and the health of generations of US residents,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.  “The one millionth switch may be just another drop in a bucket, but it’s a big step toward erasing the environmental impacts of mercury air emissions in America.”

photo of a mercury switch in the palm of a person's hand
The mercury switch itself is small, about the size of a pencil eraser.

While car manufacturers have stopped using mercury-containing light switches, many older domestic cars contain mercury in the light switches under hoods and in trunks and in some anti-lock brake systems. Most of these cars will be retired within the next few years and will be ready for dismantling. At that point, a dismantler can salvage a car's usable parts, remove the mercury switches for recycling, and then send the car to a steel mill to recover the steel. Removing a switch before the car is sent to a mill prevents the possible release of toxic mercury emissions, which can cause serious pollution hazards and human health risks. If a switch is not removed prior to crushing, the opportunity to remove the switch in the recycling stream is lost.

The millionth mercury auto switch removal highlights how the NVMSRP partnership is making progress toward reducing the amount of mercury released into the air, water and land.  The partnership aims to collect at least four million switches by August 2009, moving it closer to the program’s ultimate goal of capturing 80-90 percent of all available vehicle mercury switches.

Administrator Johnson removed the one millionth switch at a Pull-A-Part auto dismantling facility in Atlanta , GA. Assistant Administrator Susan Bodine also gave remarks, commending the group on this milestone and encouraging continued work to achieve the program’s goals.  In addition, the US Senators from Georgia, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, each spoke about successful environmental partnership programs such as the NVMSRP.  The organizations participating in the NVMSRP include auto dismantlers, scrap recyclers, the End of Life Vehicle Solutions Corporation representing 13 automobile manufacturers, steel makers, environmental groups, states and EPA.

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