New Jersey Becomes First Populous State To Curb Mercury Pollution From Scrapped Vehicles

New Jersey today joined the growing ranks of states taking action to reduce mercury pollution when Governor Richard Codey signed the Mercury Switch Removal Act into law.  The law requires automakers to establish a program to reimburse vehicle dismantlers for removing mercury switches from vehicles before they are recycled.  Environmental Defense praised Governor Codey, state legislators and environmental and business leaders in the state for their efforts to finalize this critical and cost effective bill that will greatly reduce the top source of mercury air emissions in New Jersey.

“New Jersey joins a growing list of states that recognize that cost effective solutions to reducing mercury pollution are available,” said Kevin Mills, Clean Car Campaign director at Environmental Defense.  “We urge all states to follow New Jersey’s path.  Rather than fighting progress in each state, automakers should participate in a national program that will most quickly collect the maximum amount of dangerous mercury.”

More than twenty states have expressed interest in programs that will prevent the release of mercury pollution from scrapped vehicles.  Maine was the first state to pass and implement a complete program.  This month New Jersey and Arkansas passed legislation to build on Maine’s success with similar programs that have higher financial incentives for switch removal.  Washington, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and other states are also working to pass similar legislation.  This unprecedented action by such a diverse group of states demonstrates that a national commitment by U. S. automakers is needed to address this source of mercury pollution.

Providing a national perspective, Environmental Defense was an integral part of a strong New Jersey coalition of environmental organizations and steel, scrap and automobile recycling industries formed in the state to address this issue. 

Environmental Defense works on this issue nationally through the Partnership for Mercury-Free Vehicles, which includes the Steel Manufacturers Association, Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries, Steel Recycling Institute, Automotive Recyclers Association, and the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center.