| Aside from the obvious contaminants of Freon, | | | | recovery of mercury switches from end of life |
| transmission and brake fluids and used motor oil, | | | | motor vehicles, the Indiana Department of |
| there is one that slides under the radar for most: | | | | Environmental Management has issued funding |
| mercury. Up until 2003 mercury was one of the | | | | provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection |
| components in the convenience lights of hoods | | | | Agency to pay a bounty of $3.00 per mercury |
| and trunks, as well as in antilock braking systems. | | | | switch recovered from salvaged automobiles. |
| For example, vehicles may contain up to two | | | | IDEM is working in conjunction with the |
| grams of mercury in their hood and trunk light | | | | Automotive Recyclers Association of Indiana |
| switches alone- mercury that can be released into | | | | (ARI) to educate auto recyclers throughout |
| the environment when cars are crushed for scrap | | | | Indiana on the safe removal and handling of the |
| metal recycling. The mercury switches in are one | | | | mercury switches. In 2008, ARI together with |
| of the nations' largest sources of mercury | | | | IDEM hosted a presentation on the safe removal |
| contamination. | | | | of mercury switches and how to collect the $3.00 |
| Most people don't realize what environmental | | | | fee. IDEM's goal is to establish a partnership |
| nightmares salvage yards can be, but salvage | | | | between itself and the auto recycling facilities of |
| yards in Indiana are pairing up with the state's | | | | Indiana. The mercury switch recovery program is |
| environmental department to ensure that those | | | | a win-win situation for both the government and |
| nightmares don't become reality for the citizens | | | | the auto recycling industry and has gone a long |
| there. | | | | way toward cementing ties between the two. |
| When mercury switches are not removed from | | | | IDEM is also introducing a new program called the |
| inoperable vehicles before they are crushed or | | | | Environmental Results Program. This volunteer |
| shredded, mercury can evaporate into the air and | | | | program, which is supported and endorsed by the |
| be deposited into the surrounding water and soil. | | | | ARI, is an alternative to traditional permitting that |
| Runoff of from mercury contaminated soil ends | | | | requires self audits with accompanying self |
| up in ground water, streams and lakes. Because | | | | certification to validate compliance with |
| fish collect mercury in their bodies, fishing and | | | | environmental requirements. |
| consumption of fish harvested from mercury | | | | Currently, 95% of the 200,000 end of life vehicles |
| contaminated waters can be a source of mercury | | | | are recycled in Indiana are recycled each year |
| exposure for people. Mercury is a strong | | | | diverting approximately 103,000 tons of recyclable |
| neurotoxin that can be harmful to the health of | | | | materials away from landfills. Salvage yards in |
| humans and wildlife. Mercury poses the biggest | | | | Indiana and around the country have spent over |
| threat to children and fetuses and even small | | | | $50 million on environmental compliance and are |
| amounts can create behavioral and learning | | | | working everyday to preserve our precious |
| problems later in life. | | | | natural resources and to prevent the |
| In response to the need to facilitate the safe | | | | contamination of our air and water. |