Campaign to Remove Mercury Switches from Cars Bailey

Campaign to Remove Mercury Switches from Cars Bailey Mylleville NEWMOA Breaking the Mercury Cycle Conference May 1 -3, 2002

Clean Car Campaign A Collaboration Between: • Ecology Center • Environmental Defense • Great Lakes United • Mercury Policy Project • Michigan Environmental Council • Union of Concerned Scientists • American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

The Clean Car Campaign Embodies the Principles of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) • Manufacturers responsibility for product life cycle impacts • EPR forges the critical link between the end-of-life products and product design • Responsibility of products throughout their lifecycle will reduce toxicity of products and increase recyclability

Strategic Research Mercury in Fleet • 11. 2 tons used in U. S. vehicles in 1996 • 150 million switches now on the road

Electric Arc Furnaces • 120 U. S. facilities • Up to 10 tons of mercury released each year

Mercury Auto Facts • Each switch contains approximately one gram of mercury. • These switches are not collected when cars are retired and end up remaining adhered to the steel, which is sent to steel reprocessing centers.

Mercury Auto Facts (cont’d) • An estimated 5. 3 – 6. 7 metric tons of mercury were used in U. S. produced 2000 automotive models. • The entire North American fleet of approximately 225 million vehicles, puts an estimated 164 to 191 metric tons of mercury on the road.

Auto Mercury Applications Convenience Lighting “Most” pre-1995 hood and truck lights Other HID Headlamps Navigational displays Backlit instruments Family entertainment systems

Mercury Auto Project • Significant amounts of mercury are still being used in vehicles, largely due to the use of mercury in lighting devices and anti-lock braking systems • According to a 1996 white paper by the Society of Auto Engineers, mercury switches accounted for 99% of North American uses of mercury in automobiles

Mercury Proposed Switch Collection Program • Combination of In-Use and End-of-Life Collection • Goal of 90% Capture Rate • Phase-out and labeling of all mercuryadded components

Campaign Activities • National Switch-the-Switch Events • Working with State Attorney Generals • Mercury-Free Vehicles Partnership

Goals for Auto Mercury Project • Raise public awareness about mercury use in vehicles • Producer responsibility for automakers to establish mercury switch removal and collection programs • Ultimate elimination of mercury use in vehicles

Resources Available Campaign Web Page: www. cleancarcampaign. org Workgroup Minutes & Survey Results Email: mercuryinautos@glu. org Bailey Mylleville, Clean Production Coordinator Great Lakes United Phone: (716) 886 -0142 Fax: (716) 886 – 0303