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Recovering Mercury Devices From Appliances

Recovering Mercury Devices From Appliances. Developed for MassDEP with support from Alternative Recycling Resources Inc. & Interstate Refrigerant Recovery Inc. Massachusetts Mercury Management Act. Chapter 190 of the Acts of 2006

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Recovering Mercury Devices From Appliances

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  1. Recovering Mercury Devices From Appliances Developed for MassDEP with support from Alternative Recycling Resources Inc. & Interstate Refrigerant Recovery Inc.

  2. Massachusetts Mercury Management Act • Chapter 190 of the Acts of 2006 • Remove all mercury devices from products before scrap recycling or disposal

  3. What is Mercury? • Found in nature • Liquid at room temperature • Good conductor of electricity • Expands & contracts with temperature & pressure

  4. Why Care About Mercury? • Toxic, especially to developing children • Can leak from discarded products • Emitted from coal-burning facilities • Rain carries it into lakes & streams • Fish become contaminated

  5. What is a Mercury Switch or Flame Sensor? • Small, sealed switch or ampoule containing a few drops of mercury • Made from steel, plastic or glass; shape varies • Turns a motor or light on & off, or senses heat from a flame

  6. Two Types of Switches

  7. Where is the Mercury? Inside the casing

  8. What Appliances May Contain Mercury Switches or Sensors? • Chest freezers • Gas ranges & ovens • Commercial water heaters • Sump pumps • Boilers, furnaces & space heaters • Old washing machines • Some RV equipment

  9. Chest Freezer

  10. Chest Freezer Electrical wire out of lid A mark like this (sometimes a sticker) indicates that CFCs have been removed

  11. Chest Freezer Without Mercury Switches If a plastic tab or button switch controls the light, there is no mercury switch.

  12. Chest Freezer Mercury tilt switch ampoule beneath plastic casing

  13. Chest Freezer

  14. Chest Freezer

  15. Gas RangeWithout Mercury Switches Light switch

  16. Gas Range with on/off Light Switch

  17. Electric Range Without Mercury Switches Button type pressure switch, no mercury

  18. Mercury Flame Sensor Remove metal plate

  19. Mercury Flame Sensor Remove screws Disconnect gas line

  20. Mercury Flame Sensor Gas lines Gas safety valve Capillary tube Mercury ampoule

  21. Flame Sensor Removal Remove screws Remove screws

  22. Mercury Flame Sensor Mercury ampoule Capillary tube containing mercury vapors, leading to safety valve Clip attaching ampoule to pilot assembly Pilot

  23. Another Type of Flame Sensor

  24. Some Appliances are Marked

  25. Mercury-Free Ranges Electronic Ignition Label

  26. Older Ranges

  27. More Mercury Flame Sensors Capillary tube Safety valve Mercury ampoule

  28. More Mercury Flame Sensors Capillary tube Mercury ampoule Gas safety valve

  29. More Mercury Flame Sensors Mercury ampoule Gas safety valve Capillary tube

  30. Washing Machines Plastic button on the lid to activate switch on machine at the left

  31. Mercury Tilt Switch

  32. Sump Pump Mercury-containing float switch

  33. Space Heater

  34. Other Appliances Containing Mercury • Gas furnaces • Gas refrigerators, air conditioners, water heaters & dryers • Microwave ovens • Recreational vehicles

  35. Older Furnace & Boiler Controls May Contain Mercury

  36. Safety • Protect the ground with plastic sheeting • Protect yourself with safety gloves & goggles • Protect others from using dangerous appliances

  37. Protect Yourself • Safety glasses • Work gloves & latex gloves • Work boots • Respirator w/Hg cartridges (optional) • Eye wash & first aid stations or kits • Portable mercury spill cleanup kit

  38. Tools You’ll Need • Pry & flat bars • Hammer • Manual & power screwdrivers (flat & Phillips) • 1/4” & 5/16” nut drivers • Vise grips • Wire cutters & tin snips • Wrenches: 3/8” & 11/16”open-end & adjustable • Magnet

  39. Universal Waste Rule

  40. Recycle Mercury Components • Store until you have enough mercury devices to send for recycling • Use only licensed mercury processing facilities • Companies with Massachusetts locations: http://www.mass.gov/dep/toxics/stypes/hgcycle.htm

  41. Resources • MassDEP Mercury Home Page http://www.mass.gov/dep/toxics/stypes/hgres.htm • Report on Removal of Mercury Devices from Appliances www.epa.gov/region5/air/mercury/appliancereport.html • Universal Waste Rule Fact Sheet http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/hazardous/univrule.doc

  42. Credits Presentation • Bea Maloof, Alternative Recycling Resources Inc. (ARRI) www.arri.us.com Photos & Consulting • Timothy Maloof, Interstate Refrigerant Recovery Inc. (IRRI) www.irri.us • Patricia Shea, ARRI Additional Thanks • Chuck Ransom, IRRI

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