AISI Joins Others for National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program

In August, AISI joined forces with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Steel Manufacturers Association, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, the Automotive Recyclers Association, Environmental Defense, the Ecology Center (Ann Arbor), and representatives of the Environmental Council of the States in an agreement known as the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program. The program is the result of a two-year collaborative effort among these environmental and industry organizations to find a solution to the mercury switch issue.

The program is aimed at removing mercury switches found in vehicles manufactured prior to 2003 before they become part of the auto-scrap recycling infrastructure. Since mercury is a toxic element to the environment, having these switches removed is an important step in making the auto-scrap recycling infrastructure more environmentally sound.

"The automobile is America's most recycled consumer good containing America's most recycled material—steel," said Andrew G. Sharkey, III, president and CEO of AISI. "It is imperative that we protect the scrap infrastructure from contaminants."

The steel industry believes that the best way to reduce the amount of mercury contaminants in the scrap stream is to remove the mercury containing components before the scrapped automobile reaches the scrap stream. This program is a considerable step towards achieving that objective.

"This process will significantly reduce mercury in steel scrap, which is a feedstock for steelmaking. At the same time, it will render significant benefits to the environment," said David Sutherland, president and CEO of IPSCO, Inc. and a member of AISI's Board of Directors. "We are committed to working with our partners and with EPA to reach the mercury reduction goals that are laid out in this agreement."

The steel industry has committed $2.0 million in funding for the program. All AISI member companies with melting capacity will be asked to sign on to the program and help finance the fund. In addition, thousands of mercury switch removal buckets have been sent out to auto dismantlers around the country. These buckets include pertinent information about the program and how the removal process works. This program will truly be a collaborative effort on the parts of AISI member companies, scrap processors, auto dismantlers and the other environmental and industry organizations that have agreed to be a part of this program. For more information, contact Jim Schultz.

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