Attention: Virginia Vehicle Dismantlers and Scrap Metal Recyclers

In 2006, the Virginia
Legislature passed House
Bill 447 andSenate Bill 88 into law requiring vehicle dismantlers to make a good faith effort to remove automotive mercury convenience lights from vehicles of 2002 and older model years before the vehicle is demolished.

Additionally, 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 national program, NVMSRP, for recovering mercury switches from scrap vehicles before they are shredded for recycling.

As part of the Virginia legislation as well as the NVMSRP, ELVS will provide education and outreach regarding mercury switch removal. ELVS also will provide collection buckets and pay for the cost of shipping and recycling the switches removed by dismantlers and scrap metal recyclers.

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).