Recyclers Hot Over Mercury

FAIRFAX, Va.--The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) says that the responsibility for collecting and disposing of mercury switches should fall more upon vehicle manufacturers rather than the scrap industry.

Additional groups, including the Environmental Defense, Great Lakes United and the Ecology Center have taken a similar stance.

The associations cite a report that has brought this issue into the spotlight: “Toxics in Vehicles: Mercury and Toxic by Design,” which indicates that potentially 15.6 metric tons of mercury are released when cars are scrapped in an average year.

The ARA supports the report’s recommendations that mercury use in switches and other components be eliminated immediately; that vehicle manufacturers take responsibility for removal and safe collection of mercury from existing fleets; that makers label vehicles that have parts containing mercury; and automakers notify automotive recyclers which models contain mercury.

“This is an issue that has been created by the manufacturers, as they have chosen to put mercury in their vehicles,” said ARA Executive Vice President Bill Steinkuller. “To our knowledge, automakers have yet to disclose their historical uses of mercury as well as specific models that contain mercury. Our members simply cannot assume the significant responsibility for disposing of these toxic substances.”

The ARA specifically supports automobile manufacturers accepting responsibility for and mercury. A spokesperson for automobile manufacturers recently stated that “it’s easier to take out the mercury switches at the end of the car’s life.” The ARA contends that “the easier solution would be to use an alternate substance in the vehicles, and not install mercury in the first place.”

Several manufacturers, including BMW, Toyota and Volvo, realized this years ago and have since avoided the use of mercury in their components and designs since 1993, said Steinkuller.

While removal at the end of a vehicle’s life may seem like a simple solution, the “business reality” is that it is much easier for vehicle manufacturers to allow someone else to fix their problem, he said. “Reason and equity demand the manufacturers shoulder the responsibilities for their mercury. After all, manufacturers put the mercury in the vehicles. Automotive recyclers, per contra, have no role with respect to mercury at any point except to manage its nuisance quotient--under strict, expensive, and difficult handling requirements, serious burdens for ‘mom and pop’ concerns--no way to expect compensation from their customers to cover the cost of dealing with mercury, and no resources sufficient to cover potential legal liabilities or lawyer fees,” he noted. “Mercury represents unfair and unreasonable added costs and risks, not an additional mode of revenue, for any professional automotive recycler,” Steinkuller pointed out.

As the automotive manufacturers’ past statements indicate, there is an industry system waiting for these vehicles at the end of the road, to adequately handle the vehicle's disposal, and professional automotive recyclers can be part of the solution, he observed. “Automotive manufacturers, however, must be more accommodating to help resolve these environmental concerns, according to Steinkuller. “We look forward to discussions on how our professional automotive recycling industry fits into securing a positive resolution of mercury concerns.”

For more information, contact www.autorecyc.org.