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National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program
Multimedia
EPA's Multimedia Center includes an interview with Deputy Associate Administrator Rick Otis about the NVMSRP. View the video or listen to the podcast.
Administrator Stephen L. Johnson holds the one millionth mercury switch recovered through the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program.
The mercury switch itself is small, about the size of a new acorn.
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 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 by 2017.
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Memorandum of Understanding establishing the program (PDF) (13 pp., 126 KB; About PDF)
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August 2006 Fact Sheet: National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program
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Information about states' participation in the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program
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January 2009 Fact Sheet: Here's How Your Local Government Can Switch on a New Green Program (PDF) (47L, 1 pp., about PDF)
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2006-2007 Annual Report of the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (PDF) (31 pp., 391K, about PDF)
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October 2007 Final Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) to require notification to EPA prior to U.S. manufacture, import, or processing of elemental mercury for use in convenience light switches, anti-lock brake system switches, and active ride control system switches in certain motor vehicles.
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December 2007 final air toxics standards for area sources that use electric arc furnaces (EAFs) in steel manufacturing. This rule reduces mercury emissions by requiring that EAF steel makers buy motor vehicle scrap from providers that participate in the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program.
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February 2008: Partnership program recovers one million switches Fact sheet | Press release
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August 2008: Outreach material for automobile and scrap recyclers (PDF) (666K, 2 pp., about PDF) about the environmental and monetary benefits of joining the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program.
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Find more information about proper management of mercury switches in automobiles