Earth Equity News

GM Says It's a 'New Company,' No Longer Responsible for Collecting Toxic Wastes in Scrapped Vehicles Made by the 'Old GM'. By Ken Thomas, AP, August 10, 2009. "General Motors has quit working with a partnership that collects toxic parts from scrapped automobiles, jeopardizing an effort to prevent mercury pollution just as hundreds of thousands of clunkers are headed to recyclers. Participants in the environmental program told The Associated Press the timing of GM's departure could hurt their work. The government's 'cash-for-clunkers' program will lead to trade-in and recycling of an estimated 750,000 vehicles, some of which contain mercury switches. GM says it's a new company, formed with substantial government aid in the wake of bankruptcy protection, and is not a member of the partnership because it doesn't make vehicles with mercury switches and is not responsible for the older vehicles. The old company, which is still under bankruptcy court supervision, says it is reviewing agreements involving the former company and declined to comment."