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Green Star's Mercury Switch-Out Initiative
Mercury pollution is a growing concern in the United States. Each year, mercury contamination causes neurodevelopment problems, from mild learning disabilities to mental retardation, in more than 375,000 children born in the United States. To address this, mercury advisories have been issued for more than 50,000 bodies of water in 40 states. Because fish are particularly able to store mercury in their bodies, fish advisories are available from the EPA at http://www.epa.gov/ost/fish.
There are various sources of mercury pollution, but did you know that your car may contain up to three grams of mercury? Because of mercury's fluid properties, mercury tilt switches are used in many vehicles to turn on the lighting assemblies as trunk and hood doors are opened. The mercury can be released into the atmosphere when cars are scrapped or crushed. To help prevent this pollution, Green Star is encouraging members to replace the mercury switches in their vehicles with non-mercury alternatives, which can cost as little as 50 cents per switch, an about 5 minutes of time.
To assist in this Green Star will provide:
- Ten free non-mercury switches for the first ten fleets that sign up for this program,
- A list of vehicles that contain mercury switches,
- Detailed instructions for the removal and replacement of mercury switches (Chrysler procedure, Ford procedure, 1998 Ford trunk procedure, GM hood procedure, GM trunk procedure),
- Free collection containers for mercury switches that are properly labeled and sealed,
- Free mercury spill clean-up kit with detailed safety instructions,
- Positive publicity through alerting the media, Green Star’s website, and Green Star’s electronic newsletter, and
- Free window decal stating “Mercury Switch-Out” with the Green Star logo.
Removing mercury switches is a great way to address hazardous waste for an Environmental Management Systems (EMS) or the Green Star Award.
Reasons to Remove Mercury Switches
If you’re still wondering why to remove your switches, consider the following. Mercury is a growing liability. As awareness of mercury pollution issues continue to increase, the difficulty of disposing of, or passing on, a car with mercury switches will increase. Some examples include:
- Alaska Metal Recycling is now charging $20 per vechicle to remove the switches from vehicles before they are accepted.
- In Oregon, it will be illegal to sell a car with a Hg switch after 2006.
- In Maine and California, it is illegal to scrap a car without first removing the Hg switch.
- Mercury switch removal is addressed through the permitting process in Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York (air or stormwater).
- New Jersey is working on a project to require that manufacturers to fund disposal of mercury switches.
To test your mercury knowledge or find out about other places mercury can be found in your home or office, visit http://www.nwf.org/mercury.
Did you know... one gram of mercury can contaminate a 25-acre lake?
Did you know... Alaska fish are some of the safest in the country? Help us keep it that way!
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Additional Links:
Green Star Award
Green Events
Green Star Schools
Site Assessments
Electronics Recycling
AK Materials Exchange
AME Listings
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