ISRI Calls on General Motors to Not Abandon Its Responsibilities in Letter to Obama Administration

GM Turns Its Back on Environmental Protections by Withdrawing from Mercury Switch Removal Program

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) sent a letter to President Obama on Friday, August 21, requesting his help with the recent decision by General Motors ("GM") to withdraw from participation in the End of Life Vehicle Solutions ("ELVS") program which is fundamental to the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Removal Program (NVMSRP). American taxpayers own a significant portion of General Motors. It is for this reason that ISRI sent the letter to President Obama highlighting the risk to the environment posed by GM's action. GM is hiding behind technical bankruptcy issues to undercut the Obama Administration's environmental and health concerns.

ELVS was given responsibility in 2006 under the EPA-facilitated National Vehicle Mercury Switch Removal Program (NVMSRP) to lead and coordinate the efforts of the auto manufacturers (including GM) to collect, transport, and properly recycle mercury switches removed from end-of-life vehicles by auto dismantlers and scrap recyclers. Auto dismantlers and scrap recyclers have been voluntarily removing these switches since 2006 under the NVMSRP program, which requires that the switches be sent to ELVS for recycling. Further, the NVMSRP established an incentive payment (currently $4/switch) which is sent by ELVS to the auto dismantler or scrap recycler. The incentive is intended to help defray the cost of removing and handling the switches. It has been shown to be necessary to ensure high switch recovery rates, thus significantly reducing the amount of mercury released into the environment.

"GM contributes over half of the funds to operate ELVS (based upon GM's share, which is 53% of the mercury switches in vehicles that remain in commerce today)," ISRI President Robin Wiener points out in the letter. "It is critical that GM continue to fund ELVS if the thousands of small- to medium-sized businesses that comprise the auto dismantling and scrap recycling industries are to have a safe, responsible, and cost-effective option to which the mercury switches removed from end-of-life vehicles can be sent," the letter states. "Second, the incentives referred to above have been paid through an EPA-facilitated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) detailing the elements of the NVMSRP and signed on August 11, 2006 by the automotive scrap recycling, dismantling, and steel industries, as well as the states and several environmental organizations."

"Given the current state of the economy, the NVMSRP is in danger unless it is adequately funded going forward. Discussions are currently under way in the Congress to address the future funding of the NVMSRP but with no certainty as to the result. As such, we ask your support to ensure that these proven incentives continue," the letter concludes. "The scrap recycling industry respectfully requests that your administration take the necessary steps to keep GM's support of ELVS in place. ISRI also respectfully requests that your administration consider providing the necessary funding to replenish the NVMSRP incentive fund that supports the small businesses that are tasked with ensuring the mercury is properly removed from these old cars, and that it is also a necessary part of the CARS program."

In the early 1990s, GM heard from the scrap recycling industry and others that the continued use of mercury convenience light switches would lead to environmental problems. Despite the ready availability of suitable alternatives, GM continued installing mercury convenience light switches until 2002. Then a coalition, including the scrap recycling industry, the environmental community and others, forced GM to stop by supporting legislation in the states mandating that GM pay for the removal of these switches before recycling. Subsequently, GM and other automakers voluntarily established ELVS and committed to the NVMSRP. "We think it is crucial that GM, which has taken approximately $25 billion in bail-out funds from the public coffers, step forward and renew its $1 million per year commitment to removing mercury, a proven health threat to children and pregnant women, from its end-of-life cars ," states ISRI President Robin Wiener. "This is really a matter of principle and GM should do the right thing by renewing its participation in the ELVS program."

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the "Voice of the Recycling Industry." ISRI represents more than 1,500 companies in 21 chapters nationwide that process, broker, and consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics, and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., ISRI provides education, advocacy, and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade and environment. For more information about ISRI, please visit www.ISRI.org.