Timken Joins Mercury Reduction Project

The Timken Co. has become a member of the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program. A goal of the group is to work to reduce levels of mercury emitted from automobile scrap.

The NVMSRP has a goal of reducing mercury emissions in the United States by about 75 tons over the next 15 years.

The program is the result of a collaborative effort involving the United States Environmental Protection Agency, members of the American Iron and Steel Institute, automobile manufacturers and members of the vehicle scrap recycling industry.

"Timken and the other members of AISI share a deep commitment to responsible stewardship of our natural resources," said Ward J. Timken, Jr., chairman of Timken's board of directors and chairman of AISI. "Our joint leadership with the automotive industry in this initiative will help eliminate an important source of mercury emissions, as steelmakers recycle millions of tons of vehicle scrap each year."

The automobile manufacturers and steelmakers that are part of the NVMSRP have created a $4 million implementation fund as a resource to help achieve the program's objectives. U.S. EPA is acting as facilitator of the national program, which is intended to complement existing state mercury-reduction initiatives.