The North Dakota Department of Health (DoH) is calling for auto salvage yards and scrap metal recyclers in the state to participate in the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP).
NVMSRP provides methods for automobile recyclers and salvage operations to remove mercury-containing switches from scrapped vehicles prior to smelting. It was created through a 2006 agreement among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Iron & Steel Institute, the Automotive Recyclers Association, Ecology Center, Environmental Council of States, Environmental Defense, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc., the Steel Manufacturers Association and End of Life Vehicle Solutions Corp. (ELVS), a company created by the automotive industry to promote recycling efforts and proper management of hazardous substances.
As part of the agreement, ELVS provides education to promote vehicle recycling and proper management of mercury switches, including collection and recycling.
In cooperation with the North Dakota DoH, ELVS will supply vehicle recyclers with collection buckets and will pay transportation, reporting/recycling or disposal costs for elemental mercury in automotive switches.
New and replacement buckets for collecting automotive mercury switches can be obtained by calling 734.547.2511. Callers are asked to leave a message stating the bucket size (small or large) required along with their company names, shipping addresses and phone numbers.
Questions about the program can be directed to Dave Cameron or Christy Smith, North Dakota Department of Health, at 701.328.5166 or by visiting www.elvsolutions.org.