Mercury-Containing Product Mercury-Containing Product Reduction Programs in the Reduction Programs in the

NortheastNortheast

Terri GoldbergTerri Goldberg

NEWMOANEWMOA

OutlineOutline

BackgroundBackground

Overview of Mercury-Added Products Overview of Mercury-Added Products

Examples of Collection Efforts in the Examples of Collection Efforts in the Northeastern U.S.Northeastern U.S.

LegislationLegislation

Recent Studies – TRC & Spills ReportsRecent Studies – TRC & Spills Reports

Mercury HUBsMercury HUBs

BackgroundBackground

Regional Mercury Action PlanRegional Mercury Action Plan

1999 Kicked off Legislative Initiative1999 Kicked off Legislative Initiative

2000-2002 Introduced Legislation2000-2002 Introduced Legislation

Legislation EnactedLegislation Enacted

Collection ProgramsCollection Programs

Sector Outreach- Hospitals, Schools, Sector Outreach- Hospitals, Schools, Dental Clinics, DairiesDental Clinics, Dairies

Mercury-Added ProductsMercury-Added Products

Fever & lab thermometersFever & lab thermometers

Blood pressure devicesBlood pressure devices

Barometers, manometers, gaugesBarometers, manometers, gauges

Auto switchesAuto switches

Elemental mercury from dental offices & schoolsElemental mercury from dental offices & schools

Appliances w/mercury switchesAppliances w/mercury switches

Fluorescent & other lampsFluorescent & other lamps

Other switches & relaysOther switches & relays

Sectors: ExamplesSectors: Examples

K-12 SchoolsK-12 SchoolsDental clinics Dental clinics Colleges & universitiesColleges & universitiesHospitals, medical clinics & laboratoriesHospitals, medical clinics & laboratoriesHome owners/communitiesHome owners/communitiesPlumbers/electriciansPlumbers/electriciansJunkyards/auto crushers & recyclersJunkyards/auto crushers & recyclersMSW incineratorsMSW incineratorsFederal & other government facilitiesFederal & other government facilitiesFarmsFarms

Why Collect?Why Collect?

Virtual elimination goalVirtual elimination goal

Prevent exposure & environmental Prevent exposure & environmental releasesreleases

Public education – products, proper Public education – products, proper handling/management, & spill cleanuphandling/management, & spill cleanup

Prevent costly cleanupsPrevent costly cleanups

Collection Programs in the NE US:Collection Programs in the NE US: CT Example CT Example

CT DEP 2001 CampaignCT DEP 2001 CampaignFocused on communities/home owners, schools Focused on communities/home owners, schools & dental clinics& dental clinicsGoal: 2001 pounds collected in year 2001Goal: 2001 pounds collected in year 2001Results:Results:

412 pounds of mercury from dentists412 pounds of mercury from dentists>70,000 thermometers exchanged (60 >70,000 thermometers exchanged (60

lbs)lbs)>1,218 pounds of mercury from HHW>1,218 pounds of mercury from HHW>380 pounds of mercury from schools>380 pounds of mercury from schools

Collection Programs in the NE US: Collection Programs in the NE US:

VT ExampleVT ExampleK-12 Clean-out CampaignK-12 Clean-out Campaign

Targeted all middle & high schools Targeted all middle & high schools

Collect all excess hazardous & non-Collect all excess hazardous & non-hazardous materials, including mercuryhazardous materials, including mercury

Results:Results:

83 schools (>50% of school pop.)83 schools (>50% of school pop.)

17,000 lbs. of hazardous materials 17,000 lbs. of hazardous materials Includes 156 lbs. of mercuryIncludes 156 lbs. of mercury

Collection Programs in the NE US: Collection Programs in the NE US: MA ExampleMA Example

Targeted high schools & voc-techTargeted high schools & voc-techCoordinating with the Dept. of Education Coordinating with the Dept. of Education Collecting mercury & other hazardous materialsCollecting mercury & other hazardous materialsResults:Results:

In 2001: 32 high schools; ~14 In 2001: 32 high schools; ~14 lbs./schoollbs./school

2002: ~60 additional high schools 2002: ~60 additional high schools Combined: 26% of MA high schoolsCombined: 26% of MA high schools Approx. 1200 lbs. of mercury collectedApprox. 1200 lbs. of mercury collected Mystery of 75 pound flasks– source? Mystery of 75 pound flasks– source?

Collection Programs in the NE US: Collection Programs in the NE US: VT ExampleVT Example

Mercury fever thermometer collection from Mercury fever thermometer collection from householdshouseholdsConducted through pharmacies throughout the Conducted through pharmacies throughout the statestatePharmacies to stop sale in future Pharmacies to stop sale in future Results:Results:

~15% of households participated~15% of households participated111 pharmacies out of 119 participated111 pharmacies out of 119 participated

45,000 thermometers collected45,000 thermometers collected95 pounds of mercury 95 pounds of mercury

Collection Programs in the NE US: Collection Programs in the NE US: MA ExampleMA Example

Thermometers, Dentists, & CommunitiesThermometers, Dentists, & CommunitiesConducted through pharmacies & communitiesConducted through pharmacies & communitiesResults:Results:

~85,000 thermometers collected~85,000 thermometers collected~100,000 expected by end of year~100,000 expected by end of year360 participating pharmacies360 participating pharmaciesMSWCs collected 1400 lbs. in 2001MSWCs collected 1400 lbs. in 20011600 lbs. collected from dentists in 20011600 lbs. collected from dentists in 2001

Other Examples in the NE USOther Examples in the NE US

Dental agreements in MA, NH, VT, MEDental agreements in MA, NH, VT, ME

Dental collection in MADental collection in MA

Dairy manometer collections in VT & NYDairy manometer collections in VT & NY

MSW incinerators plans & collections in MSW incinerators plans & collections in MAMA

Auto switches in NY & other statesAuto switches in NY & other states

Federal facilities & other government Federal facilities & other government agencies case studiesagencies case studies

Challenges & OpportunitiesChallenges & Opportunities

Identifying sources Identifying sources

Encouraging cooperationEncouraging cooperation

Ensuring that lasting system is in place to Ensuring that lasting system is in place to prevent reintroduction of mercuryprevent reintroduction of mercury

Education on proper use, management & Education on proper use, management & cleanup of mercury cleanup of mercury

Recycling/disposal optionsRecycling/disposal options

Mercury-Added Product LegislationMercury-Added Product Legislation

Provisions EnactedProvisions Enacted

Notification: CT, ME, NH, RINotification: CT, ME, NH, RI

Interstate Clearinghouse: CT, ME, NH, RIInterstate Clearinghouse: CT, ME, NH, RI

Product Bans: CT, ME, NH, RIProduct Bans: CT, ME, NH, RI

Phase-Out & Exemptions: CT, RIPhase-Out & Exemptions: CT, RI

Labeling: CT, ME, RI, VTLabeling: CT, ME, RI, VT

Disposal Ban: CT, ME, RIDisposal Ban: CT, ME, RI

Collection Plan: CT, RICollection Plan: CT, RI

Mercury-Added Product LegislationMercury-Added Product Legislation

Provisions EnactedProvisions Enacted

Hospital Disclosure: ME, RIHospital Disclosure: ME, RI

Elemental Mercury Control: CT, ME, NH, RIElemental Mercury Control: CT, ME, NH, RI

Public Education & Outreach: CT, ME, NH, Public Education & Outreach: CT, ME, NH, RIRI

Universal Waste: RIUniversal Waste: RI

State Procurement: RIState Procurement: RI

Implementation of the LegislationImplementation of the Legislation

Labeling – VT lead, NEMA Lawsuit, >150 Labeling – VT lead, NEMA Lawsuit, >150 companies complying, reviewing companies complying, reviewing alternative labeling plans & coordinating alternative labeling plans & coordinating with other stateswith other states

Notification – NH initiated, IMERC Notification – NH initiated, IMERC coordination; ~200 notified to datecoordination; ~200 notified to date

Elemental Mercury Control -- NH initiated Elemental Mercury Control -- NH initiated

Product Bans – New focusProduct Bans – New focus

Recent StudiesRecent Studies

Evaluation of Thermostat Recycling Evaluation of Thermostat Recycling Corporation Activities in the NortheastCorporation Activities in the Northeast

Conducted phone survey Conducted phone survey

Analyzed resultsAnalyzed results

Evaluated participation ratesEvaluated participation rates

Estimated collection ratesEstimated collection rates

TRC Study FindingsTRC Study Findings

Thermostat collection valuable & importantThermostat collection valuable & importantTRC needs to do continuous outreach to TRC needs to do continuous outreach to wholesalerswholesalersWholesaler participation rate in the region Wholesaler participation rate in the region is low: 0-39%, varies by state is low: 0-39%, varies by state Collection rate in the region is also low: Collection rate in the region is also low: ~1-5%~1-5%Success of the program depends on Success of the program depends on state/local government effortsstate/local government efforts

Mercury Spill ReportMercury Spill Report

Mercury Spills Reported in the NE; 1999-Mercury Spills Reported in the NE; 1999-20002000Collected data from the states –Collected data from the states –environmental agencies & poison control environmental agencies & poison control centers – on reports of mercury spillscenters – on reports of mercury spills>320 spills reported/year to environmental >320 spills reported/year to environmental agenciesagencies>1,100 spills reported/year to 6 poison >1,100 spills reported/year to 6 poison control centerscontrol centers

Mercury HUBSMercury HUBS

Web-based: Web-based: www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercurywww.newmoa.org/prevention/mercuryMercury OverviewMercury OverviewDentalDentalThermostatsThermostatsThermometersThermometersSchoolsSchoolsAuto – later this yearAuto – later this yearAppliances – later this year Appliances – later this year

For More InformationFor More Information

Terri GoldbergTerri Goldberg

NEWMOANEWMOA

(617) 367-8558 x302(617) 367-8558 x302

tgoldberg@newmoa.orgtgoldberg@newmoa.org