Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mercury Switch Removal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House backs Mercury Switch Removal Act, offers $5 incentive for recyclers
Summary
House passed First Substitute House Bill 138 to set up a voluntary incentive program that pays auto recyclers $5 per removed mercury-containing ‘bullet’ switch and asks manufacturers to support recovery; sponsors framed it as a voluntary, manufacturer‑supported program. (Vote: 69–0)
The Utah House on Feb. 13 approved First Substitute House Bill 138, the Mercury Switch Removal Act, which establishes a voluntary industry incentive program to remove small mercury-containing "bullets" from end-of-life vehicle light switches and compensate recyclers $5 per recovered mercury item.
Representative James Menlove, sponsor, described the switches and the environmental concern: "With located within this switch is a small little bullet type item that contains mercury." He said auto manufacturers have agreed to an industry recovery plan (referenced on the floor as "ELVIS") to pay for packaging, shipping and recycling, and the bill asks them to provide a $5 incentive for each recovered mercury bullet to encourage removal before vehicles are crushed.
Debate focused on implementation details and timing. Representative Ferry successfully moved to bracket and replace a repeal date in the bill, moving the target repeal/transition date to Feb. 2012. Representative Keiser flagged earlier drafts that imposed heavier requirements and noted manufacturers and ELVIS had committed to funding the roughly $20 million package under discussion; sponsors emphasized the bill is intended to maximize collection while minimizing new regulatory burdens.
Representative Menlove noted that states with voluntary incentive programs have higher collection rates than ones relying on regulation; he urged support and the House passed the bill 69–0. The bill will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
Actions and next steps: the House adopted a floor amendment to set the repeal/bracket date to 02/2012, approved the first substitute by recorded vote, and transmitted the bill to the Senate.
