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March 2005

New Jersey to offer cash incentive for auto mercury removal

The New Jersey Legislature has approved a bill that would provide vehicle dismantlers with a cash incentive to remove mercury switches from automobiles before scrapping them.

The State Senate approved the Assembly-introduced measure February 14, sending the bill to acting Governor Richard J. Codey for his signature.

“The recycling of scrap vehicles in steel mills is the top source of mercury air emissions in New Jersey, and this bill provides a cost-effective plan for addressing that source,” said Kevin Mills, of Environmental Defense, which lobbied for the bill´s passage.

The bill would provide vehicle dismantlers with $2 per switch, and the state would receive $.25 per switch to cover the expense of administering the switch removal program. Automakers would pay the costs.