TRENTON – Automobiles headed to the scrap heap will now have to have all mercury switches removed before being destroyed under legislation sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono and signed into law by Governor Richard Codey today.
“Scrapped cars are estimated to contribute 1,000 pounds of mercury into the environment each year,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “The overwhelming majority of that mercury seeps into the ground, contaminating local ground water and adding to already high levels of mercury in sea life. Even minimal exposure to mercury poses a danger to people and animals, particularly expectant mothers and small children. With this legislation, we will prevent a significant amount of mercury from entering the environment each year.”