Attention: Kentucky Vehicle Dismantlers and Scrap Metal Recyclers

In August 2006, agreement was reached between the USEPA, American Iron & Steel Institute, Automotive Recycler’s Association, Ecology Center, Environmental Council of States, Environmental Defense, End of Life Vehicle Solutions, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the Steel Manufacturers Association on a voluntary national program, NVMSRP, for recovering mercury switches from scrap vehicles before they are shredded for recycling.

As part of the agreement, the auto industry will provide education, collection, and recycling of automotive mercury switches which will be carried out by the End of Life Vehicles Solutions Corporation (ELVS).

One of the NVMSRP goals is to maximize switch collection nationally.  A $4 million fund has been established to reward dismantlers/recyclers on a first-come, first-serve basis for their efforts by paying $1 per mercury switch received.  (For more details, please click on the NVMSRP tab above).

As a first step in implementing the NVMSRP and in cooperation with the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, ELVS will provide vehicle recyclers with collection buckets and will pay the costs of transportation, retorting/recycling or disposal of elemental mercury from the automotive switches. ELVS also will provide educational materials to promote vehicle recycling and proper management of mercury switches.