Earlier this week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the recipients of his Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards. Among the honorees was the State of California Auto Dismantlers Association for "Sustainable Practices or Facilities." Earlier this year, SCADA, along with CAW and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers reached a tentative agreement on a program funded by auto makers to remove and recycle mercury switches. So far, 100 pounds of switches were collected in the first five months.
If the mercury switches are not taken out before the ELV gets flattened or smelted, the mercury from the switches releases into the air and eventually settles into nearby water bodies and/or top soil.
Other honorees included San Mateo County's RecycleWorks in the Children's Environmental Education category for their RecycleWorks KIDS website, teaching 3rd-6th graders about how they can protect the environment through recycling.
In the Environmental and economic partnerships category, Goodwill Industries and Dell Inc. received an award for their partnership with ReConnect San Francisco that has allowed county residents to drop off, free of charge, used computer equipment for Goodwill to sort for recycling or refurbishment.
The Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards Program is the state's highest environmental honor, recognizing individuals, organizations, and businesses operating in California that have demonstrated outstanding environmental leadership.
Read more about the Award Honorees.
