Rhode Island Exceeds 2016 Mercury Recycling Goal
ALEXANDRIA, Va., December 05, 2016 — The Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) announced this week that the goal set by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) for the proper recycling of the equivalent of 3,250 mercury thermostats in 2016 was achieved in October, more than two months ahead of schedule. Rhode Island has one of the highest rates of participation in TRC’s mercury thermostat recycling program on the East Coast and has year to date recycled more than 23 pounds of mercury from thermostats.
Top performing TRC collection partners in the state include energy efficiency company RISE Engineering with more than 7 pounds of mercury recycled in 2016. RISE Engineering was recognized with a Governor’s Proclamation for its efforts in the program in October of this year. Other top participants include HVAC Wholesale businesses Supply New England and R.E. Michel Company, Inc. with more than 7 pounds of mercury recycled between them.
“We are very pleased with Rhode Island’s efforts to recycle mercury thermostats this year. The state’s dedication to the program and the environment shows in these early results,” said Ryan Kiscaden, TRC’s Executive Director.
Mercury can be harmful to the environment and to human health if exposed in large quantities. A mercury thermostat contains on average about 3 to 4 grams of mercury, which is more than 1000 times more mercury than is found in a CFL lightbulb. When a mercury thermostat is thrown in the trash instead of properly recycled, the mercury bulb has a chance of breaking in the landfill and spilling elemental mercury into Rhode Island’s waterways. This is why it is the law in Rhode Island that every HVAC Wholesale business that sells thermostats must maintain itself as a collection point for end-of-life mercury thermostats.
The goal for mercury thermostat collections set by RIDEM for 2017 is 4,000 thermostats. TRC and its partners in Rhode Island will strive to once again exceed expectations and recycle every mercury thermostat, every time.
About Thermostat Recycling Corporation
Thermostat Recycling Corporation, founded in 1998, is an industry-funded non-profit corporation supported by 29 manufacturers who historically branded and sold mercury thermostats in the United States. TRC maintains a network of more than 3,600 collection sites nationwide and has recovered more than 2.1 million thermostats, 10 tons of mercury, since its inception. TRC assumes all costs to transport and properly dispose of mercury switch thermostats recovered from service. Learn more about TRC by finding us on Facebook, or following us on Twitter.