Attention: Washington Vehicle Dismantlers and Scrap Metal Recyclers

The Washington State Department of Ecology, the Automotive Recyclers of Washington (AROW), and ELVS have established the Washington Motor Vehicle Mercury Switch Removal Program for end of life vehicles.

The purpose of this program is obtain the voluntary participation of all vehicle recyclers operating in Washington in order to collect and recycle mercury switches from motor vehicles before they are shredded, crushed, or smelted and to prevent mercury release into the environment.

As part of this program, 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 and outreach to promote vehicle recycling and proper management of mercury switches.