Steel Dynamics, Inc. joins with other members of the Steel Manufacturers Association in support of the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (“NVMSRP”). The goal of this program is the removal of mercury-containing electrical switches from end-of-life vehicles before they enter the supply of steel scrap. Removing these switches before automobiles are crushed and shredded is the most effective way to prevent the mercury in the switches from causing contamination and possible emissions into the atmosphere.

The NVMSR program is a national partnership among steelmakers, scrap suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, environmental groups, the Environmental Council of the States, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The program was set up to facilitate the removal, collection, and safe disposal of electrical switches from the hoods and trunk-lids of certain end-of-life vehicles, and from anti-lock braking systems. These switches have been used to operate hood and trunk lights. Liquid mercury in these switches makes or breaks contact depending on the position of the switch. Such switches were used in some automobiles before 2002.

Under the program, scrap-recycling operations are asked to remove these switches from vehicles as a part of the preparation of vehicles for recycling. The End of Life Solutions Corporation (“ELVS”) has been set up in support of this effort. The ELVS organization provides mercury-switch collection containers to automobile recyclers, as well as removal instructions, lists of vehicles that may have used these switches, and detailed shipping instructions. All of the shipping and disposal costs for the switches collected are paid for by ELVS.

Steel Dynamics strongly encourages all of its suppliers of auto-scrap to voluntarily participate in this program. Steel Dynamics has implemented procedures for scrap suppliers to document that mercury switches have been removed from the steel scrap that is delivered to SDI. Additional information is available at www.elvsolutions.org. 

Steel Dynamics appreciates your support for this effort, a very important program to protect and preserve our environment. As one of the major recyclers of steel scrap in North America, Steel Dynamics is committed to protecting the environment by maintaining high standards of operations including the quality of the ferrous raw materials consumed.

Note: The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) is the primary trade association for mini-mill manufacturers of steel in America. SMA members annually recycle more than 60 million tons of scrap using an environmentally friendly technology that employs electric-arc furnaces. Each year, SMA member companies in North America recycle more material by weight than the total of all other recyclable materials combined.