SPRINGFIELD –Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott reports that additional mercury is being removed from the environment through a recycling and collection program for vehicle mercury switches.  The number of mercury switches collected doubled in 2008, compared to 2007, due in part to an incentive program that was put in place late in 2008.  

 

The Illinois Mercury Switch Removal Act became law April 24, 2006.  Under the law, automakers were required to develop a free collection program for mercury-containing convenience lighting switches and anti-lock brake sensors from end-of-life vehicles.  Automakers created End of Life Vehicle Solutions (known as ELVS) for that purpose.   Light assemblies have one switch.  Automatic braking system assemblies usually have three switches. Each switch contains about 0.8 grams of mercury. 

 

“The ELVS program has aided in increased recycling of vehicle mercury switches over the past year, which helps us remove more mercury from the environment,” said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott.  “Illinois has several programs to eliminate mercury.  Mercury is a health risk to everybody, but especially to young children and fetuses.”  

 

When the law was originally passed, it called for voluntary removal of the switches by vehicle recyclers, crushers and shredders.  A target rate was set for 50 percent of all switches to be collected for recycling. The law stated that if that goal was not met by June 30, 2008, automakers would be required to pay vehicle recyclers, crushers and scrap metal processors a removal incentive of two dollars for every light switch removed and six dollars for every anti-lock brake sensor removed. 

 

Since the capture rate was not met, switch removal became mandatory on September 1, 2008.  Now, all mercury-containing switches from scrap or end-of-life vehicles must be removed prior to flattening, crushing, shredding or delivery of the vehicle to a scrap metal recycling facility, unless the switch is inaccessible due to significant damage to the vehicle. 

 

The switch removal requirement applies to all vehicle recycling facilities that are in the business of acquiring, dismantling, or destroying six or more vehicles in a calendar year for the primary purpose of reselling the vehicle's parts.  Scrap metal processors or vehicle recyclers and crushers are also subject to the requirement if they accept scrap vehicles that contain mercury switches and have not been intentionally flattened, crushed, or baled.

 

In 2007, 11 recyclers submitted 15,450 switches or a total of 33.99 pounds.  More than twice that amount, 32,364 switches or 70.98 pounds, was submitted in 2008 by 55 recyclers.  By June 30, 2008, 10,922 switches had been collected.  That number was almost doubled in the last half of the year, with 21,442 switches collected between July 1 and December 31, 2008.  With the incentive payments beginning September 1, more switches were collected in the last half of 2008 than in all of 2007.   

 

For information on the number of switches collected or the ELVS program visit www.elvsolutions.org.  To enroll in the program, recyclers should call (877) 225-3587 or (248) 788-6656; those already enrolled should call (734) 547-2511.

 

            

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