Indiana Legislature Okays Mercury Switch Bill

House Bill 1110 requires manufacturers of motor vehicles to develop and implement a plan to remove, collect, recover, and recycle or dispose of certain mercury switches from end of life vehicles. Exempts from mercury switch plan development requirements motor vehicle manufacturers that have never installed mercury switches in their motor vehicles.

Further, the bill requires the Indiana department of environmental management to allow a public comment period on a plan of at least 30 days, and to act on the plan within 120 days. Requires motor vehicle recyclers to remove all mercury switches from end of life vehicles.

The bill provides that motor vehicle recyclers include automotive salvage recyclers, automobile scrap yards, hulk crushers, scrap metal processors, and vehicle disposal facilities.

Provides that mercury switch removal requirements take effect 30 days after IDEM approves a plan.

The bill also would provide for a payment out of the solid waste management fund to a motor vehicle recycler for each mercury switch removed: in an amount of at least $1 and not more than $5 as determined by the IDEM commissioner; and to the extent that the commissioner makes money available from the SWMF for that purpose. Allows money to be redirected to the SWMF for that purpose from the Indiana recycling promotion and assistance fund and the environmental management special fund.