ISRI Partners with EPA to Extend Mercury Switch Recovery Program

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) joined with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other stakeholders in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to extend the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP) to 2021.

The program was designed to recover mercury switches in older model vehicles during the recycling process before the mercury can leak into the atmosphere. Such switches were mainly used to control automatic lights in vehicles.

“The renewal of the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program is a victory for recyclers, the auto industry and the environment,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI, in a statement. “The program allows for the safe and secure removal of mercury switches from vehicles. ISRI encourages all of its members who handle end-of-life vehicles to participate and benefit from this valuable program. We are proud to partner with the EPA and other signatories on this very important initiative.”

In 2006, the EPA, ISRI and a number of other stakeholder groups agreed to establish the NVMSRP, with the stated goal of removing mercury-containing light switches from scrap vehicles before the vehicles are flattened, shredded and melted to make new steel. Since then, car dismantlers and scrap processors have recovered more than 6.8 million switches in the program, containing more than 7.6 tons of mercury, according to the EPA.

Although the program has gone through funding changes over the years, it continues to provide collection buckets and cover the costs of shipping and recycling for dismantlers and processors while providing indemnification for any environmental liability from the handling of the switches after shipment.