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Recyclers News Press
Environmental Standards
Iowa—Certified Auto Recyclers Environmental Program
I-CARE
Environmental Standard 14
Waste tires are stored on-site with at least 50
feet of clearance between tire piles, the perime-
ter of the yard and/or structures. No more than
1,500 tires are kept on-site at any given time as
agreed with ARA.
Waste tires are banned from disposal in Iowa sani-
tary landfills. Under Iowa Administrative Code
Chapter 117, a waste tire storage permit is required
from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources if a
person or business that owns or operates a site
used for the storage, collection, or deposit of more
than
500 waste
tires, or an authorized vehicle recy-
cler who is licensed by the department of transpor-
tation, pursuant to Iowa Code section 321H.4 and
who owns or operates a site used for the storage,
collection, or deposit of more than
3,500 waste
tires. (A waste tire is defined as a tire that is no
longer suitable for its originally intended purpose
due to wear, damage, or
defect.) Effective in June
2002, a waste tire is de-
fined to include tires on
the rim. Additionally, the
rules require 50 feet of
clearance between tire
piles, the perimeter of the
yard and/or structures.
Although 3,500 waste tires are permissible in Iowa,
the ARA standard limits on-site storage to 1,500
tires which is one semi-trailer load of waste tires
present at the salvage yard.
Environmental Standard 15
CAR certification requires that the company par-
ticipates in the National Vehicle Mercury Switch
Recovery Program (NVMSRP) or the equivalent
state program.
On August 5, 2005, federal rules required that mer-
cury-containing equipment requiring disposal are
considered Universal Waste (40 CFR 273) and,
therefore, are exempt from the more stringent man-
agement standards for hazardous waste under the
federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) if recycled.
On January 1, 2007, the Iowa Mercury-Free Recy-
cling Act required the removal of automotive mer-
cury-containing convenience light switches from
scrap automobiles before crushing or shredding.
The law also requires payment for each mercury
light switch that is recovered and properly recycled.
Once removed from the vehicle, mercury switches
must be stored in a leak proof, closed container that
will prevent the mercury capsule from breaking.
Generators of mercury switches cannot accumulate
the waste for more than one year. Each container
that holds mercury switches must be labeled ac-
cordingly (i.e. “Universal Waste”). Along with clearly
labeling the contents of the waste containers, iden-
tify the length of time the waste has been accumu-
lated. This can be done simply by adding the date
that the first switch was placed in the container to
the label.
The
End of Life Vehicle Solutions Corporation
(ELVS),
which was created by the auto industry and
EPA
,
will provide a collection bucket and arrange for
the shipping and recycling of the mercury switches
collected free of charge.
The Iowa rule made a
provision to pay $5.00 for each convenience light
switch that can be associated with a valid model.
Payment will NOT be made for anti-lock brake sen-
sor (ABS) assemblies only for switches recovered
from convenience lighting. However, all switches
and assemblies received will be properly recycled at
no cost to the participants.
Questions regarding the ELVS program can be an-
swered by calling ELVS at 734-547-2511.
