Minnesota

Attention: Minnesota Vehicle Dismantlers and Scrap Metal Recyclers

The End of Life Vehicles Solutions Corporation (ELVS) is a not-for-profit corporation created by the automotive industry to promote the industry’s environmental efforts.

The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP) is a voluntary agreement between the USEPA, American Iron & Steel Institute, Automotive Recycler’s Association, Ecology Center, Environmental Council of States, Environmental Defense, End of Life Vehicle Solutions, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the Steel Manufacturers Association to recover mercury switches from 2002 and older scrap vehicles before they are shredded for recycling

In 2006, ELVS took over the management of the Minnesota Mercury Recovery Program. The program, previously run as a volunteer partnership between Minnesota Waste Wise, the Minnesota Chamber, the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance, and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, is now part of the NVMSRP which continues to provide an efficient means to recycle automotive mercury convenience light switches.

ELVS provided vehicle recyclers with collection buckets and pays the costs of transportation, retorting/recycling or disposal of elemental mercury from the automotive switches. ELVS also provides educational materials to promote vehicle recycling and proper management of mercury switches.

Minnesota’s Former Automotive Mercury Switch Recovery Program

From mid-2004, automakers sponsored the “Minnesota Mercury Recovery” program for automotive mercury switches. This program, operated by Minnesota Waste Wise (MWW), provided salvage yards and scrap processors with free collection/shipping containers, transportation, and recycling for automotive mercury convenience lighting switch pellets and assemblies.

A national program for recovering mercury switches from scrap cars and light trucks before they are shredded for recycling is under development. The parties, including ELVS, are now working to complete a formal agreement.

In recognition of the pending national agreement and the need for consistency among programs, ELVS took over the management of the Minnesota Mercury Recovery Program. The program will operate in the same manner.

The Minnesota Mercury Recovery program built on nearly a decade of education and outreach to salvage yards through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, trade associations, and steel endmarkets. The program was very successful, with high participation from salvage yards and scrap processors throughout the state.