Global bearings and power transmission equipment manufacturer The Timken Company recently joined in a national program designed to reduce levels of mercury emitted from the automobile scrap used as raw material in the steelmaking process.
The company announced that it has become a member of the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP), an effort designed to help lower the level of mercury emissions in the United States by approximately 75 tons over 15 years. The program is the result of a collaborative effort involving the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), members of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), automobile manufacturers and members of the vehicle scrap recycling industry.
Mercury switches are found in automotive convenience lighting in hoods and trunks and some anti-lock braking systems manufactured prior to 2003. If not removed, these switches can result in mercury being released into the air during vehicle demolition. Timken and other NVMSRP participants are working directly with scrap suppliers and brokers to ensure that mercury switches are removed before scrap enters the steelmaking process. According to company reports, Timken recycled nearly 300,000 tons of scrap from automobiles in 2006.
The automobile manufacturers and steelmakers that are part of the NVMSRP have created a $4 million implementation fund as a resource to help achieve the programs objectives. U.S. EPA is acting as facilitator of the national program, which is intended to complement existing state mercury-reduction initiatives.
For more information, visit www.timken.com
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