Older, non-digital thermostats controlling heating and airconditioning often contain a switch with a significant volume of mercury. I don't have precise amounts, but I guess the mercury weights would be well into the 10s of milligrams, at least. Energy conservation efforts strongly advocate that people replace old stats with programmable digital units. Efforts in Canada are just now taking off in Ontario, to organize safe disposal of mercury-filled thermostats. Can anyone give me a brief overview of such efforts underway/planned for safe disposal of old stats elsewhere in Canada or in other countries? In particular, is there evidence that manufacturers are contributing cash to coordinate and organize collection and disposal efforts? Are there existing community-based social marketing resources available anywhere?
Cheers,
Neil
Disposing of Old (Mercury Filled) Thermostats?
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Neil,
In the US, the effort to establish a recycling and manufacturer take-back program for mercury thermostats has been led by a manufacturer's group (Thermostat Recycling Corporation - http://www.nema.org/gov/ehs/trc/) and the Product Stewardship Institute or PSI (http://www.productstewardship.us/), working in conjunction with the states, HVAC wholesalers and contractors, and Household Hazardous Waste programs. Aside from a one-time registration fee of $25, TRC pays for the collection bins, shipping and handling and re-processing of the mercury containing thermostats. The folks at PSI would probably have the best overview of CBM resources.
Michael Bergman
Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist
Reducing Toxic Threats Initiative
Washington Department of Ecology
360.407.6243
[email protected]
Thermostat Recycling Corporation
1300 North 17th St., Ste
1752 Rossllyn, VA 22209-380
1 703.841.3249 voice
703.841.3349 fax
Recycling program of mercury thermostats available throughout US and Canada. Honeywell, White-Rodgers and GE established the Thermostat Recycling Corporation in 1997. Originally available only to contractors, the program has been expanded to Household Hazardous Waste facilities. Participants send a one-time $25 fee for each collection box, a storage container that will hold around 60 items. When full, the post-paid box can be returned. An empty will be sent back upon receipt of the full container.
Marjorie Torelli
Western Finger Lakes Solid Waste Management Authority
Lyons, NY 14489
315.946.7650
An article in Waste Age magazine announced an initiative to recover mercury-containing thermostats in the US.
The Thremostatat Recycling Corp, Rosslyn, VA, and the Product Stewardship Institute announced a nation-wide recycling program.
Thermostat Recycling Corp. Tel.: 703.841.3249
PSI - www.productstewardship.us/HHWCollectionPilot
The Western Finger Lakes Solid Waste Management Authority in Lyons, NY, has just joined this program. The industry group has provided a post-paid container for collecting thermostats. When the container is filled, the Authority can send it back and receive another empty container.
Marjorie Torelli
Western Finger Lakes
Solid Waste Management Authority
Lyons, NY 14489
315.946.7650