News Release 534

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES URGES SALVAGE
YARD PARTICIPATION IN MERCURY REDUCTION PROGRAM

Volume 34-534

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 6, 2006 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with End of Life Vehicle Solutions (ELVS), a not-for-profit organization, is encouraging salvage yards to remove mercury switches from scrap vehicles before recycling them.

The department is taking a multi-faceted approach and looking for ways to reduce mercury contamination in Missouri. One approach is to ask vehicle recyclers and dismantlers for their help.

You can find pellet-sized mercury switches in the lights under trunk and hood compartments and in anti-lock brakes of some vehicles built as late as the 2002 model year. "By collecting mercury switches from scrap vehicles, recyclers and dismantlers will be playing a critical role in protecting our health and environment," said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers.

Mercury is extremely toxic to humans and can affect the central nervous system. If mercury is not properly collected and managed, it can also affect our environment. Removing mercury switches before they are crushed, shredded or melted for recycling will help eliminate additional releases of mercury.

Fish tissue sampling indicates that mercury contamination is widespread and present in fish throughout Missouri. Each year, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues an advisory for fish consumption. Anyone eating fish contaminated with mercury can be affected, especially pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 13 years old.

When recyclers and dismantlers join ELVS, they will receive a collection bucket, educational materials, a list of vehicles that potentially contain mercury switches, and detailed instructions for shipping the ELVS buckets. ELVS will arrange for the shipping and recycling of the mercury switches collected at the facility -- all of this free of charge to those participating in the voluntary program.

The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program was formed as a result of an agreement reached in August 2006 by representatives from the dismantlers, automotive steel and scrap industries, environmental groups and a national group representing state governments and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As part of the program, the auto industry organized the ELVS, a not for profit corporation.

If you have any questions about the ELVS program, please call toll-free at (877) 225-ELVS(3587), or send an e-mail to info@elvsolutions.org or visit the Web at www.elvsolutions.org.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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