Nucor Activism Removes Mercury Switches From Cars
As North America's largest recycler, Nucor melts down 9 million cars every year. So when it was discovered that any one of those cars could potentially pose an environmental risk, Nucor took quick steps to begin remediation.
At the root of the problem were tiny mercury switches. For years the switches were used to trigger convenience lights under hoods or in trunks. Unfortunately, if not removed, the mercury from those switches is easily released into the atmosphere as vapor when the recycled vehicle is melted for reuse.
The Mercury Switch Itself is Small, About the Size of a New Acorn
Focusing on the Solution.
Eventually that mercury in the air is transmitted into our waterways by rain with dangerous repercussions, as the mercury from the switches of just four vehicles is potent enough to contaminate a 17-acre lake. (That's a lot of water tainted by less than one-tenth of a pound of mercury.)
Since these scrapped vehicles arrive at Nucor and other steelmakers in shredded or compacted form, detecting the switches and removing them is impossible. That meant steps to a solution needed to start elsewhere.
Nucor started at the beginning. Through intensive lobbying with the attorneys-general in 19 states, enough pressure was put upon U.S. car manufacturers to discontinue installing the switches. Finally, in 2002, the last automobile manufacturer using the switches ceased. Prior to this milestone event, it was estimated that U.S. carmakers were using up to 12 tons of mercury every year.
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The problem is far from resolved.
Though the mercury switches were no longer being installed, a problem still existed as millions of switches were still out there in vehicles on the road, or in scrap yards waiting to be recycled. So Nucor continued its lobbying efforts, this time seeking legislation to enforce removal of the switches in existing vehicles. As a result, most states now have regulatory or voluntary programs addressing the removal of the switches by salvage yard operators prior to the shredding or compacting of a vehicle.
In addition, Nucor has lent its support to the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program. Sponsored by the Automotive Recyclers Association, and backed by concerned organizations like the Steel Manufacturers Association, the self-policing program is endorsed by auto recyclers in all 50 states. With the program, incentives will be paid to auto dismantlers for each mercury switch removed. With this kind of cooperation, mercury emissions are expected to be cut by several tons over the coming years.
Progress is being made.
