Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 10 Sec. 7108

  • Agency: means the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. See
  • following: when used by way of reference to a section of the law shall mean the next preceding or following section. See
  • Manufacturer: means any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, governmental entity, organization, combination, or joint venture that:

  • Mercury-added vehicle switch: means a capsule, commonly known as a bullet, containing mercury, that is part of a convenience light switch assembly for motor vehicle trunks and hoods or is part of the anti-lock brake system. See
  • Motor vehicle: means a vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, such as an automobile, van, truck, motorized construction equipment, motorized recreational vehicle, motorcycle, or forklift. See
  • Motor vehicle recycler: means an individual or entity engaged in the business of acquiring, dismantling, parts recycling, or destroying six or more end-of-life motor vehicles in a year. See
  • Scrap metal recycling facility: means a facility at a fixed location that uses equipment to process and refabricate scrap metal into prepared grades and principally produces scrap iron, steel, or nonferrous metallic scrap for sale. See
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States may apply to the District of Columbia and any territory and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. See

[Section 7108 repealed effective December 31, 2021.]

§ 7108. Mercury-added motor vehicle components

(a) Applicability. This section applies to:

(1) a motor vehicle recycler or scrap metal recycling facility in the State; and

(2) a manufacturer of motor vehicles sold in this State.

(b) Mercury-added switch removal requirements. A motor vehicle recycler that accepts end-of-life motor vehicles shall remove mercury-added vehicle switches prior to crushing, shredding, or other scrap metal processing and prior to conveying for crushing, shredding, or other scrap metal processing.

(1) Motor vehicle recyclers shall maintain a log sheet of switches removed from end-of-life motor vehicles and shall provide such log to the Agency annually or upon request of the Agency.

(2) Switches, including switches encased in light or brake assemblies, shall be collected, stored, transported, and handled in accordance with all applicable State and federal laws.

(c) Manufacturer mercury-added switch recovery program. A manufacturer of vehicles sold in this State, individually or as part of a group, shall implement a mercury-added vehicle switch recovery program that includes the following:

(1) educational material to assist motor vehicle recyclers in identifying mercury-added vehicle switches and safely removing, properly handling, and storing switches;

(2) storage containers provided at no cost to all motor vehicle recyclers identified by the Agency, suitable for the safe storage of switches, including switches encased in light or brake assemblies;

(3) collection, packaging, shipping, and recycling of mercury-added switches, including switches encased in light or brake assemblies, provided to all motor vehicle recyclers at no cost and that comply with all applicable State and federal laws; and

(4) a report on or before December 1 annually to the Agency that includes the total number of mercury-added switches recovered in the program, the names of the motor vehicle recyclers and the number of switches removed from each, and the total amount of mercury collected during the previous 12-month period.

(d) Agency responsibility.

(1) The Agency shall provide workshops and other training to motor vehicle recyclers to inform them of the requirements of this section.

(2) The Agency may develop, by procedure, exemptions of certain mercury-added vehicle switches and other components from the requirements of this section, including mercury-added switches that are inaccessible due to motor vehicle damage and anti-lock brake switches in certain motor vehicle types that are difficult or labor-intensive to remove. (Added 2017, No. 168 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. May 22, 2018.)