As the government’s cash for clunkers program rolls on, General Motors says it is no longer responsible for the proper disposal of potentially toxic auto parts. Since emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, GM has dropped out of a program that aims to prevent mercury pollution.
During the 1980s and 1990s, it was a common practice in the automobile industry to use mercury switches in trunk convenience lights and anti-lock brake systems. In fact, about 36 million switches were installed in vehicles during those years, half belonging to General Motors.
Without a proper disposal program, that mercury can leak into the environment, potentially causing harm to plants, fish and humans. As such, the End of Life Vehicle Solutions Corp. was founded in 2005 with goal of preventing widespread mercury pollution.
General Motors has participated in the program for the last four years – becoming ELVS’ largest client – but hasn’t paid its dues since filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. GM typically spends $700,000 to $1 million on the program annually, according to Automotive News. Without GM’s portion of the funding, ELVS may be forced to cease its operations.
GM claims that the ‘new’ General Motors has never produced a vehicle containing mercury and is therefore no longer obligated to participate in the program. GM’s liability to those vehicles remains in bankruptcy court with Motors Liquidation Inc., better known as the ‘old’ GM.
To date ELVS has disposed of about 2.5 million mercury switches, leaving millions more still on the road or in our nation’s junk yards. Thirteen automakers still participate in the program, but without GM’s cash flow the entire project could be in serious jeopardy.
08/12, 1:03 PM
posted by:
A4
well at least the meat is safe.
08/12, 1:08 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I think everyone paying a loan on a GM product purchased prior to BK should just stop sending the cheques. Tell them the ‘new’ GM had nothing to do with their vehicle and that they no longer feel obligated to participate.
08/12, 1:11 PM
posted by:
CADDY-V
“Thirteen automakers still participate in the program, but without GM’s cash flow the entire project could be in serious jeopardy”.
How big is GM as a company?? It seems that anything that they are involved in and pull out of is in trouble without them. Is every company they work with depending on there GM check to keep them in business??
08/12, 1:28 PM
posted by:
FusionPowerActivate
As Government Motors, they get to shirk their responsibility just like the government. If it doesn’t pay favors, f*ck it, may all your children have brain development issues.
08/12, 2:06 PM
posted by:
Sector_15504
@ johnny:
+1, very well said….
08/12, 2:11 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Amen Johnny.
08/12, 4:15 PM
posted by:
h82w8
What was it that Fritz said about being transparent to the taxpayer? Maybe he was talking about the people living close to their plants that get exposed to the mercury his company is now refusing to clean up.
08/12, 5:13 PM
posted by:
Borat
You guys missed the point. GM is preparing you to meaningful and fruitful relationship with China. They will make your domestic cars there. Ig there is lead in the paint, why worry about mercury? It’s good for you.
08/12, 5:45 PM
posted by:
Spingood Tanoya
When GM spokesmodel Bob Lutz was awakened from his nap and asked to comment, he replied:
“Mercury disposal? Let Ford handle that. I’m busy enough trying to get rid of Saturn and Saab!”
08/12, 10:35 PM
posted by:
psiclone
That sucks if things are the way the article puts it but it doesn’t sound like the story is being reported completely from the middle. Meaning, I’m sure GM (having another perspective on the story) wouldn’t phrase things like, “it is no longer responsible for the proper disposal of potentially toxic auto parts.” GM has had to cut a lot of sponsorships and funding of programs, so they might have some kind of a legitimate reason. One being that they’ve invested so much into the program thus far, it relieves them of further obligation; proof being that the program cannot even survive without their funding. However, it sounds like they have an ongoing obligation – especially if they produced the vast majority of these switches during that time.
Although, another legitimate case might be if they’ve already recycled an equal amount to what they produced, but certainly not that the “old GM” was the guilty party. Talk about scapegoating! Maybe “new GM” hasn’t prduced any cars with mercury since they emerged from BK but that’s not the same as saying any of “new GM’s” brands didn’t produce those switches in the past. Either way, a poor way of handling business during an image crisis GM, in my opinion. Here is a list of ELV Solutions’ currrent participanting members:
Chrysler LLC
Daimler EAPP Americas
Ford Motor Company
Navistar, Inc.
Mack Trucks, Inc.
Mitsubishi Motors North
America, Inc.
Nissan North America, Inc.
PACCAR, Inc.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Volvo Trucks North America
http://www.elvsolutions.org/
08/13, 12:09 AM
posted by:
Kanucko
GM, the awakening.
GM has finally figured it out. Look at it this way. Toyota follows GM and every other company into making huge SUV’s and Trucks. Now they aren’t selling. Boohoo. But at the very same time, they Green wash their image with the Prius, which is a fraction of their total sales. Use it as their poster child. Suddenly Toyota is a GREEN company, forget that it has the 4runner, RAV4, Highlander, Venza, Sequoila, Tundra, Tacoma or FJ cruiser. Watch one of Toyota’s commercials and all those vehicles just fade away…
Back to reality ! Were in Michigan now. GM goes bust, goes hey, we are basically a ****tier Toyota, we need a green halo car to Green wash out image too ! were sick of being targeted here. Forget about our obligations to cleanups of plants around the nation, who cares about our legacy of mercury switches, thats old GM ! who needs that noise, thats the past !
They finally get it. Don’t listen to anti climate change Lutz, he finally got told to shut up, now he banters on about Green VOLT and how everyone wants to buy a 40k sedan to save the earth, maybe even he believes it now, or maybe Fritz whispers into his hearing aid when he gets out of line?
Listen to what Americans want to hear and GM has. Americans want to FEEL green, live large, drive a 7 seat crossover (their not SUV’s anymore, thats a dirty word) and feel like their doing their part and then complain when gas reaches an astronomical 3 dollars a gallon.
NEW GM is like a pedophile right out of jail. Its changed, it doesn’t need to remember the past sins of OLD GM. Its looked into the eyes of god and said, I am forgiven, my $180 billion dollars of debt is washed away like the tears an abused child. We are Green now. WE may have not made our logo green like LLN was suggesting. But after 230, who can say anything about GM and its new environmental legacy.
Cue birds…and maybe crickets…show a blue sky. Show Volt in a nice mountain setting.
Congratulations GM on the new beginning.
08/13, 9:11 AM
posted by:
jdasch1
Can’t hardly beleive that Obama can fire Rick Wagoneer without any “legal” way of doing the deed, and he allows the “new GM” to exit such a pet project like this. Head’s should be rollling….unless a new bigger program is coming from the Pelosi/Reid crowd. My bet is on a new Czar to be coming guarding this program. The heavy metal Czar…could be something….
08/21, 1:59 AM
posted by:
psiclone
jdasch1, my guess is because the firing of Rick Wagoner was 1) about something personal for Obama; 2) a payback-favor for someone else; or 3) Obama flexing his rented rubber muscle suit.