The Clean Air Foundation brings Switch Out, an award winning pollution prevention program, to Alberta. Switch Out diverts mercury from the environment by working in conjunction with the Alberta Automotive Recyclers & Dismantlers Association to remove mercury light switches from cars before they are scrapped and recycled for new steel. Mercury use in automobiles is the fourth largest source of mercury pollution in Canada.
Switch Out originated in Ontario.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support the Clean Air Foundation's mercury Switch Out program," said David Anderson, Minister of Environment. "This program and other government initiatives to reduce mercury emissions into the air and water will protect human heath and wildlife right across the country." "I'm extremely proud of our partnership with the Clean Air Foundation to bring the Switch Out program to Alberta," said Alberta Environment Minister Lorne Taylor. "Working together, we have developed a safe mercury switch disposal program; ensuring Albertans that their communities, and their environment, will remain safe for years to come," adds Taylor.
Switch Out Alberta is supported by Environment Canada, Alberta Environment, Alberta Automotive Recyclers and Dismantlers Association (AARDA), MAXUS Technology Inc., the Recycling Council of Alberta, the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries and the Canadian Steel Producers Association.