The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports more than 635,000
mercury switches representing 1,400 pounds of mercury have been removed during the first year of its voluntary national program to remove the devices from vehicles.
With the evolution of technology, the variety of devices used for generating ultra-short steps or pulses has expanded to include gallium arsenide (GaAs) photoconductive switches, (3-4)
mercury switches, avalanche transistors, step recovery diodes (SRD), tunnel diodes and avalanche diodes, etc.
'They trigger a
mercury switch that brings the counterbalance to its full height and then slowly falls to allow the mechanical clock to carry on working.
On the backside of the thermostat, directly behind the
mercury switch and coil on the front, you'll find a small metal nib (some models have a slot for a screwdriver).
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the establishment of the National Vehicle
Mercury Switch Recovery Program a voluntary program designed to remove mercury-containing switches from the U.S.
Another option is the capacitance type, which is similar in performance to the photo eye yet closer in price to the
mercury switch.
During the International Environmental Council meeting, Robin Wiener, president of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), confirmed that a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding would usher in the first-ever national
mercury switch removal program.
The program under discussion is focused on purchase specifications in two main categories: 1) restricted metallic scrap would contain no auto shred, oil filters, oily turnings, lead Components,
mercury switches, chlorinated plastics, or free organic liquids; and 2) general scrap, which can contain auto shred, but must be depleted of organics and HAP metals, must address mercury though specifications or certification that the scrap dealer participates in new EPA
mercury switch removal program.
The National Vehicle
Mercury Switch Recovery Program is designed to remove mercury-containing light switches from scrap vehicles before the vehicles are flattened, shredded and melted to make new steel.
Codey signed the
Mercury Switch Removal Act into law, requiring all
mercury switches in convenience lights and anti-lock brake switches to be removed from vehicles before they are flattened or shredded for recycling.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, based in Washington, has joined with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to launch a statewide
mercury switch collection program for end-of-life vehicles.
Automakers contend that these two industries profit from the recycling that is done, so they should assume the cost of safe
mercury switch removal.