SARASOTA COUNTYENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Mercury Thermometer Exchange National Pollution Prevention Week

September 20-26, 1999

Mark Engel & Lois Rose

Organization of a Statewide Thermometer Exchange Program FDEP asked city and county governments to participate in

a statewide mercury thermometer exchange during National Pollution Prevention Week.

Twenty-nine different agencies committed to participate in the exchange:Alachua Bradford BrowardCharlotte Collier ColumbiaDuval Escambia GladesHamilton Hendry HighlandsHillsborough Jefferson LakeLee Levy Melbourne,

City ofMiami-Dade Orange Leon Palm Beach Pinellas PutnamSarasota Seminole Titusville, City ofUnion Volusia

Organization of a Statewide Thermometer Exchange Program

FDEP researched mercury-free thermometer sources and obtained quotes for purchase.

FDEP purchased a limited supply of “Geratherm” mercury-free thermometers from RG Enterprises. – Cost = $2.76 each

The Geratherm thermometers were distributed to participating cities and counties based on population size.

If needed, FDEP provided a disposal service for the mercury thermometers that were collected.– Mercury Technologies International (MTI).

Organization of a Statewide Thermometer Exchange Program

Developed a press release and other items for agencies to use for advertising and publicity purposes.

Developed guidelines for cleaning up spills resulting from broken thermometers.

Most importantly……FDEP left the structure and operating details of the exchange program up to each participating agency.

Structure of Sarasota County’s Exchange Program

Make it convenient - weekdays as well as weekends.

Available in all major areas of the county.

Week long exchange event -not just one day for a few hours.

How About Using Retailers? First thought was to use

TARGET stores.

Environmentally friendly image.

Three locations - south, mid and north county.

Managers of each store told us we would have to obtain approval through the district manager.

Sounded reasonable... but, we couldn’t get in touch with the district manager.

County also had concerns with liability issues- spills & clean-up resulting from thermometers.

How About Using County Facilities?ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGS

• Only in north and south county.• Not open on the weekends or evenings.

FIRE STATIONS• At times they are unmanned.• Participants could interfere with emergency

vehicle traffic.

PARK FACILITIES• Not all parks have facilities that are opened to

the public.• There could be problems with people leaving

thermometers after the exchange ended.

Sarasota County Libraries

Six locations scattered throughout the county. Open on weekdays, nights and weekends.

PERFECT

!!

Using Library Facilities for the Exchange Program

Approached the Director of Libraries with the idea to use their six facilities for the mercury thermometer exchange program.

We would use our own staff to “man” the exchange locations.

Immediately given approval to use their facilities for the exchange program and much to our surprise and delite….

The Director offered to have library staff “man” the exchange locations.

The Director based this offer on the following:– Their staffs purpose is to assist patrons in anyway that they can.– Saw it as a waste of money to have our staff just sit there, when

her staff could do it in conjunction with their daily assignments - checkout desk.

– Excellent community outreach opportunity.

What Was The Answer?

Supplies for the Exchange

Mercury-Free Thermometers– “Geratherm” filled with a liquid called galinstan.

• Special blend of gallium, indium and tin - non-toxic and safer for the environment.

– Drawbacks:• No instructions came with the thermometers.• Unusual shape - couldn’t tell if the

thermometer was for oral or rectal use. (Hope it wasn’t for rectal use)!

• Silver liquid inside looked like mercury.

Geratherm Mercury-Free Thermometer

Supplies for the Exchange Mercury-Free Thermometers

– Sarasota County received 180 Geratherm Thermometers from FDEP and purchased an additional 500 from RG Enterprises for the exchange program.

Collection Containers for the Thermometers.– 2.5 gallon plastic buckets with removable lids and labels.

Mercury Spill Kits.– Single use, purchased from Lab Safety.

Booklets - “Mercury Thermometers and Your Family’s Health” - Health Care Without Harm

Advertising

Press Release– Chose to develop our own using information from the press release

that FDEP created.– The County’s Public Information Office sent the press release out to

local media sources.• Newspapers, Radio, TV Stations

Posters– Distributed to pharmacies, Health Depts.

Advertising

Newspaper

Expensive:Ran county-wide (all

zones) on the Saturday and Sunday before the exchange program, September 18 & 19.

Ad design done by in-house graphic artist.

Advertising Real Estate Signs

Posted outside and inside of the Libraries.

Visible locations - Entrance or front foyer of the Libraries.

Weather resistant plastic.

Program Instruction Forms

Verbally went over instructions with each Head Librarian when we delivered the thermometer exchange supplies.

Especially procedures to follow if a thermometers breaks.

CONCERNSWe didn’t see a whole lot of enthusiasm when we delivered the exchange supplies and spoke to the Head Librarians…….So we thought we had better do something and fast. The exchange program was only 2 days away and some libraries hadn’t even put out their “Real Estate” signs yet advertising the exchange program!

T-Shirt Contest

NOT TO WORRY

17-Sep 20-Sep 22-Sep 23-Sep 24-Sep 25-Sep 27-Sep 29-Sep 5-Oct(Returned) (Returned)

North Port 75 50 13 112

Englewood 75 60 50 70 49 206

Jacaranda 75 50 47 60 10 8 214

Venice 75 30 47 60 29 183

Gulf Gate 75 60 30 47 83 50 47 6 292

Selby 75 10 47 70 7 195

Total 450 170 70 288 273 120 155 14 1202

North Port 39 58 51 148

Englewood 63 147 28 48 27 313

Jacaranda 61 97 11 60 47 276

Venice 41 64 50 74 44 3 276

Gulf Gate 105 80 84 61 47 7 1 385

Selby 48 10 151 47 78 2 336

Total 357 398 382 242 48 294 9 4 1734

Other Mercury Items Collected

Manometers 1Thermostat Ampoules with Mercury 45Metallic Mercury in Jars 7 lbs.Laboratory Thermometers 70Digital Thermometers with Hg Battery 5Outdoor Thermometer with Mercury 1

Total Weight Of All Mercury Containing Items Collected 24 lbs.

Number of Mercury- Free Thermometers Distributed

Number of Mercury Thermometers Collected

Cost for Exchange Program Thermometers = $4250.80

(1500) = $4140.00 Extra FedEx Charges - $110.80 Advertising = $2597.87

Newspaper (2 days) - $2287.87Real Estate Signs (6) - $260.00Posters (100) - $50.00

Other = $673.00Mercury Clean-up Kits, Lab Safety (6) = $79.602.5 gallon containers, American Container (6) = $18.00Plastic Bags - Sandwich Type = $39.90T-Shirts - American Apparel Designs (55) = $535.50Health Care Without Harm Booklets (500) = FREE

Disposal = $600.005 gallon container (3) = $600.00

TOTAL = $8121.67

Problems With Program Our BIGGEST problem was that we ran out of

thermometers & we couldn’t keep up with the demand. Concerns with disposal options.

Feedback from Library Staff Library staff didn’t want to touch the thermometers. Had the

participants put the thermometers in the container. People would come in with multiple thermometers but would

only turn in one because we only would give them one back. Some people wanted two types thermometers - oral and rectal. Participants would come in and talk forever about the history of

their thermometer(s). Participants couldn’t get the Geratherm Thermometers “shaken

back down”. Geratherm Thermometers looked like their old thermometer -

they still think they have mercury in them. People still brought in thermometers to the libraries weeks after

the exchange program ended.

Improvements for this year? Research different types of mercury-free thermometers that

would be “easier” for the public to use. Select vendor based on where they obtain their supply of

thermometers from and their proximity to Sarasota County. Advertise the exchange more. Place major emphasizes on the reason for the exchange - Health

and environmental facts in all media releases. Investigate alternative disposal options. Reduce staff time spent on the exchange program. Solicit large users of mercury thermometers to participate in the

exchange program. -– Home Health Care Agencies, Technical Institute., Schools

Sarasota County’s Motto

If it’s free, they will come…..and bring everyone they know with them.