Georgia Auto Recyclers Part of Mercury Switch Recovery Program

As part of a nationwide program that began back in August of 2006, Georgia auto recyclers have really made a significant contribution in the effort to ensure that switches that contain mercury do not find their way into the environment. The program was instituted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to recover 80-90 percent of the mercury switches from scrap automobiles. The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program attempts to address the growing problem of mercury air emissions. This is primarily related to furnaces that are used to melt existing scrap steel for the purpose of recycling the steel back into industrial use. It is estimated that over 40 million mercury containing switches are currently still in vehicles that have been or will be scraped over the next 8 years.

Last year Georgia's automotive recyclers were involved in the recovery of the one millionth mercury switch through the efforts of this program. In February of 2008, one of the nation's top environmental officer's visited the state of Georgia for the sole purpose of pulling this switch. The event occurred at an auto recycler located in DeKalb County. The United States Environmental Agency's top official, Stephen Johnson was joined by United States senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Iasakson for the monumental event.

The use of mercury in switches for convenience lights in automobiles was a common practice throughout the last half of the twentieth century. The practice was phased out in 2003. Most often used in the switches of an automobiles truck and hood lights, the mercury contained within these switches can be transferred into the atmosphere when the vehicle is crushed for recycling.

At the present time the recovery rate appears to be at only 20% nationwide, however the Environmental Protection Agency hopes to improve that rate with the Mercury Switch Recovery Program. The EPA is working in conjunction with the End of Life Vehicles Solution Corporation to increase the compliance rate to at least 80%. ELVs is a nonprofit organization comprised of 13 auto manufacturers to assist and encourage auto recycler participation. With this program, automotive recyclers do not bear the financial burden of any of the costs associated with storing, shipping and processing the mercury convenience switches they remove from the vehicles they process.

Automotive recyclers can also qualify for monetary incentives. A four million dollar fund is in place to reimburse auto recyclers $1 for each mercury switch that is collect and turned in.

Though the program is voluntary in nature, Georgia's automotive recyclers have been active participants in the program to date. There are approximately 200 automotive salvage yards and scrap dealers in the state and 70 of these are current participants. The program is scheduled to run through the year 2017 when it is felt that most automobiles that contain these switches will have been retired from use. Once the $4 million fund has been exhausted, automotive recyclers will still continue to receive support in the program at no cost to themselves.


Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at Georgia Junk Yards. He writes about Georgia junk yards, used Buick engines and other industry specific topics.