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Mercury-Containing Product Reduction Programs in the Northeast

Mercury-Containing Product Reduction Programs in the Northeast. Terri Goldberg NEWMOA. Outline. Background Overview of Mercury-Added Products Examples of Collection Efforts in the Northeastern U.S. Legislation Recent Studies – TRC & Spills Reports Mercury HUBs. Background.

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Mercury-Containing Product Reduction Programs in the Northeast

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  1. Mercury-Containing Product Reduction Programs in the Northeast Terri Goldberg NEWMOA

  2. Outline • Background • Overview of Mercury-Added Products • Examples of Collection Efforts in the Northeastern U.S. • Legislation • Recent Studies – TRC & Spills Reports • Mercury HUBs

  3. Background • Regional Mercury Action Plan • 1999 Kicked off Legislative Initiative • 2000-2002 Introduced Legislation • Legislation Enacted • Collection Programs • Sector Outreach- Hospitals, Schools, Dental Clinics, Dairies

  4. Mercury-Added Products • Fever & lab thermometers • Blood pressure devices • Barometers, manometers, gauges • Auto switches • Elemental mercury from dental offices & schools • Appliances w/mercury switches • Fluorescent & other lamps • Other switches & relays

  5. Sectors: Examples • K-12 Schools • Dental clinics • Colleges & universities • Hospitals, medical clinics & laboratories • Home owners/communities • Plumbers/electricians • Junkyards/auto crushers & recyclers • MSW incinerators • Federal & other government facilities • Farms

  6. Why Collect? • Virtual elimination goal • Prevent exposure & environmental releases • Public education – products, proper handling/management, & spill cleanup • Prevent costly cleanups

  7. Collection Programs in the NE US: CT Example • CT DEP 2001 Campaign • Focused on communities/home owners, schools & dental clinics • Goal: 2001 pounds collected in year 2001 • Results: 412 pounds of mercury from dentists >70,000 thermometers exchanged (60 lbs) >1,218 pounds of mercury from HHW >380 pounds of mercury from schools

  8. Collection Programs in the NE US: VT Example • K-12 Clean-out Campaign • Targeted all middle & high schools • Collect all excess hazardous & non-hazardous materials, including mercury • Results: 83 schools (>50% of school pop.) 17,000 lbs. of hazardous materials Includes 156 lbs. of mercury

  9. Collection Programs in the NE US: MA Example • Targeted high schools & voc-tech • Coordinating with the Dept. of Education • Collecting mercury & other hazardous materials • Results: In 2001: 32 high schools; ~14 lbs./school 2002: ~60 additional high schools Combined: 26% of MA high schools Approx. 1200 lbs. of mercury collected Mystery of 75 pound flasks– source?

  10. Collection Programs in the NE US: VT Example • Mercury fever thermometer collection from households • Conducted through pharmacies throughout the state • Pharmacies to stop sale in future • Results: ~15% of households participated 111 pharmacies out of 119 participated 45,000 thermometers collected 95 pounds of mercury

  11. Collection Programs in the NE US: MA Example • Thermometers, Dentists, & Communities • Conducted through pharmacies & communities • Results: ~85,000 thermometers collected ~100,000 expected by end of year 360 participating pharmacies MSWCs collected 1400 lbs. in 2001 1600 lbs. collected from dentists in 2001

  12. Other Examples in the NE US • Dental agreements in MA, NH, VT, ME • Dental collection in MA • Dairy manometer collections in VT & NY • MSW incinerators plans & collections in MA • Auto switches in NY & other states • Federal facilities & other government agencies case studies

  13. Challenges & Opportunities • Identifying sources • Encouraging cooperation • Ensuring that lasting system is in place to prevent reintroduction of mercury • Education on proper use, management & cleanup of mercury • Recycling/disposal options

  14. Mercury-Added Product Legislation Provisions Enacted Notification: CT, ME, NH, RI Interstate Clearinghouse: CT, ME, NH, RI Product Bans: CT, ME, NH, RI Phase-Out & Exemptions: CT, RI Labeling: CT, ME, RI, VT Disposal Ban: CT, ME, RI Collection Plan: CT, RI

  15. Mercury-Added Product Legislation Provisions Enacted Hospital Disclosure: ME, RI Elemental Mercury Control: CT, ME, NH, RI Public Education & Outreach: CT, ME, NH, RI Universal Waste: RI State Procurement: RI

  16. Implementation of the Legislation • Labeling – VT lead, NEMA Lawsuit, >150 companies complying, reviewing alternative labeling plans & coordinating with other states • Notification – NH initiated, IMERC coordination; ~200 notified to date • Elemental Mercury Control -- NH initiated • Product Bans – New focus

  17. Recent Studies • Evaluation of Thermostat Recycling Corporation Activities in the Northeast • Conducted phone survey • Analyzed results • Evaluated participation rates • Estimated collection rates

  18. TRC Study Findings • Thermostat collection valuable & important • TRC needs to do continuous outreach to wholesalers • Wholesaler participation rate in the region is low: 0-39%, varies by state • Collection rate in the region is also low: ~1-5% • Success of the program depends on state/local government efforts

  19. Mercury Spill Report • Mercury Spills Reported in the NE; 1999-2000 • Collected data from the states –environmental agencies & poison control centers – on reports of mercury spills • >320 spills reported/year to environmental agencies • >1,100 spills reported/year to 6 poison control centers

  20. Mercury HUBS • Web-based: www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury • Mercury Overview • Dental • Thermostats • Thermometers • Schools • Auto – later this year • Appliances – later this year

  21. For More Information Terri Goldberg NEWMOA (617) 367-8558 x302 tgoldberg@newmoa.org

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