Sales Ban: The sale of mercury thermostats is prohibited.
Disposal Ban: It is illegal for any person to throw mercury thermostats in the trash.
Mandatory Contractor Recycling: Any person, HVAC contractor, or Demolition Contractor is required to recycle all mercury thermostats removed from service. All removed mercury thermostats must be brought to an appropriate collection site.
Collection Program Requirements
Mandatory Wholesale Distributor Collection: HVAC wholesale distributor are prohibited from selling any thermostat unless their location(s) are acting as a collection point for waste mercury thermostats.
Recycling Your Old Mercury-Containing Thermostats
As of July 1st, 2014, thermostat manufacturers are required to establish collection programs for contractor and consumer-generated mercury thermostats. The legislation also requires all HVAC wholesale distributors with facilities in New York State (NYS) to act as a collection point for waste mercury thermostats.
IT IS ILLEGAL TO DISPOSE MERCURY THERMOSTATS IN SOLID WASTE IN NEW YORK. HVAC CONTRACTORS MUST RECYCLE ALL MERCURY THERMOSTATS THEY REMOVE FROM SERVICE. IT IS ILLEGAL TO LEAVE THEM AT THE CUSTOMER’S PREMISE. TRC IS THE EASIEST AND CHEAPEST WAY TO COMPLY WITH NEW YORK LAW.
How To Recycle Your Old Mercury-Containing Thermostats
All persons may bring mercury-containing thermostats to any TRC collection location for proper disposal. To locate a collection point, please use the search tool on this site.
How To Become a Collection Site
All HVAC wholesalers are required to participate as collection sites for waste mercury thermostats, and may order an initial collection container for their location at no charge. In addition, HVAC qualified contractors (with seven or more technicians or installers), thermostat retailers, and qualified local government authorities (municipal corporations or planning units) may voluntarily participate in TRC’s program by ordering an initial collection container at no charge. However, persons participating in the program as a collection site may be charged a fee for the replacement of any collection container that is misplaced, stolen or otherwise lost. TRC assumes all ongoing costs to transport and properly dispose of mercury thermostats.
For more information on NYS’s Mercury Thermostat Collection Law and its requirements, please visit: the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation