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States' Participation in the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program
Safe Mercury Management Information
SMM HomeMany older cars contain mercury in the light switches found under the hood or in the trunk. Some newer cars contain mercury switches in anti-lock brake systems. When these cars reach the end of their useful lives, they are dismantled, usable parts are salvaged, and the steel is recycled. If mercury switches are not removed before the car is recycled, toxic mercury can be released into the environment.
Car manufacturers have stopped using mercury-containing light switches, but today ’s automobiles can have a long street life. Therefore, millions of switches remain in cars still in use. Most of these cars will be scrapped within the next few years.
On August 11, 2006, EPA announced a national program to recover 80-90 percent of all available mercury switches from scrap automobiles. The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP) is designed to recover an estimated 40 million mercury-containing light switches from scrap vehicles that are melted to make new steel. This will significantly reduce mercury air emissions from the fourth leading source in the United States – the furnaces used in steel making. The Program is the result of a two-year collaboration involving EPA, states, environmental organizations, and several industry sectors. In February 2008, the Program collected its millionth mercury-containing automotive switch, which represents more than one ton of mercury that has been removed from the environment. The goal of the Program is to collect 80 to 90 percent of available mercury switches.
The End of Life Vehicle Solutions Corporation (ELVS) 
is a non-profit company formed by the automotive industry to promote the industry’s environmental efforts in recyclability, education and outreach and the proper management of substances of concern, such as mercury. The ELVS Web site provides information on the number of switches collected by state, participating facilities, educational materials and information about individual state efforts under the NVMRSP.
All states participate in the NVMRSP, except for the state of Maine, which has its own state program.