|
TALLAHASSEE - The Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) today announced a statewide initiative
to remove mercury switches from vehicles during
automotive recycling. Part of a national program
approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) in August 2006, the National Vehicle Mercury
Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP) is designed to remove
mercury-containing light switches from scrap vehicles
before they are flattened, shredded and melted to make
new steel.
“Vehicle recyclers and dismantlers in Florida can
play a critical role in reducing a significant source of
mercury air emissions,” said Mike Sole, DEP Deputy
Secretary for Regulatory Programs and Energy. “A
potential environmental hazard can be avoided in the
mere seconds it takes to remove a convenience lighting
switch from scrap vehicles prior to recycling them.”
This week, DEP sent letters to Florida vehicle
recyclers and dismantlers encouraging them to take part
in this important environmental initiative. As part of
the recovery program, the End of Life Vehicle Solutions
Corporation (ELVS), an organization created by the auto
industry, will send collection buckets to Florida
vehicle recyclers and dismantlers that participate in
the mercury switch collection program. ELVS will arrange
for the mercury switches collected at designated
businesses to be shipped and recycled at no cost.
Pellet-sized mercury switches can be found in
convenience lights in trunks and hoods, as well as some
anti-lock brakes of certain pre-2002 vehicles.
Nationally, it is estimated that there are 35 million
automotive mercury switches currently in vehicles today.
Recognizing the environmental and health hazards of
mercury, DEP has conducted extensive research into the
sources of mercury emissions and instituted advanced
technology controls, leading to a decrease in mercury
emissions from major emission sources over the last ten
years. Removing mercury switches from scrap vehicles
prior to recycling them can further eliminate mercury
from the environment.
For more information about the mercury switch
recovery program, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm.
| 
