[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Launches Effort to Reduce Mercury Releases from Scrap Vehicles

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

Press Release - ADEQ Director Owens Launches Effort to Reduce Mercury
Releases from Scrap Vehicles
Contact - Cortland Coleman, ADEQ Director of Communications:
602-771-2215

 

PHOENIX (January 22, 2007) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens today launched a state effort aimed at
persuading more than 200 Arizona vehicle recyclers to participate in a
free, voluntary program to reclaim the toxic metal mercury from vehicles
that are scrapped from vehicle recyclers.

 

ADEQ is asking vehicle recyclers in Arizona to join the National Vehicle
Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP), formed last year by
representatives of dismantlers, automotive steel and scrap industries,
environmental groups, a national association of state government
environmental agency officials and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. Arizona is one of the first states to join the program. 

 

 "Mercury is an extremely toxic substance, and this program will help
prevent toxic mercury from contaminating our air and water," Owens said.
"This program is a free, easy way for auto recyclers to help protect our
children and families from exposure to toxic mercury, as well as protect
our precious natural resources from contamination." 

 

When vehicles are crushed and shredded for recycling, the mercury in
vehicles' lighting switches and antilock braking systems (ABS) may be
released into the environment. Mercury is a liquid metal that
accumulates in fatty tissue and muscle and has been linked to a variety
of health effects, including toxicity to the brain and nervous system.
Exposure to mercury at elevated concentrations can cause learning
disabilities and impair motor function in children. 

 

Each year 14 million tons of steel are recycled, the equivalent of 13.5
million new vehicles. Mercury switches in cars account for as much as 11
tons of mercury pollution each year. The program seeks to cut 75 million
tons of mercury emissions over the next 15 years. 

 

The national program established a $4 million fund to pay recyclers for
their efforts on a first-come, first-served basis. Recyclers will
receive $1 per mercury light switch or assembly received, and $3 per ABS
module received. Recyclers do not need to remove the switches from the
assemblies. 

 

NVMSRP estimates that 67 million switches are available for recovery
nationwide. As many as 3.6 million cars in Arizona may be eligible for
the program. 

 

Owens said that reducing release of toxic mercury has been a priority
for ADEQ. In November ADEQ adopted rules to reduce mercury emissions
from coal-fired power plants in Arizona by 90 percent over the next
seven years. Over the past several years ADEQ also has issued fish
consumption advisories for 12 lakes throughout the state, because of
high levels of mercury found in certain fish in those lakes. 

 

-end-

 

News media interested in this story or any issue regarding ADEQ should
contact the ADEQ Office of Communications at 602-771-2215.

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