Law requires mercury thermostat manufacturers to collect and recycle unwanted mercury-containing products
Submitted by Sharon Driscoll, Recycling Coordinator
(Wampsville, NY – Dec. 30, 2013) On Dec. 18New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill to ensure the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible collection of mercury thermostats throughout the Empire State.
“Disposal of mercury-added products has been restricted in Madison County since 2004”, said James Zecca, Madison County Solid Waste Director. “Products containing mercury are considered household hazardous waste and were disposed of through the County’s hazardous waste program. This new law will require manufacturers to take responsibility for collection and proper disposal of thermostats.”
Beginning July 1, 2014, thermostat manufacturers are required to establish a system for the collection, transport, recycling, disposal and proper management of out-of service mercury thermostats, and also conduct education and outreach to consumers, thermostat wholesalers, contractors and contractor associations regarding the mercury thermostat collection program. The statewide goal for calendar year 2015 is to collect 15,500 out-of-service mercury thermostats.
Mercury is found in many older wall-mounted thermostats used to regulate room temperatures. If these thermostats break, they can release mercury into the air, causing adverse health effects when inhaled. Exposure can also occur when mercury thermostats are improperly discarded into the solid waste system because switches can break or be incinerated, releasing the mercury into the environment.
While thermostats containing mercury are no longer sold in New York, they pose a serious environmental threat when they are disposed of improperly. Each year more than a ton of mercury ends up in New York’s landfills and waste combustion facilities from improperly discarded mercury thermostats. This legislation will help create a healthier environment throughout New York State, and reduce potentially harmful mercury impacts on our air, land and water resources.
This legislation is similar to laws adopted in California, Illinois, and Rhode Island, which require the state to develop collection goals for the industry to meet through a rule-making process. Maine and Vermont, which have the highest per capita collection rates, require thermostat manufacturers to offer a $5 bounty for each mercury thermostat returned.
The new law also calls for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) to establish annual collection goals thereafter, and to make changes to the program if manufacturers fail to meet these goals. Such changes include requiring manufacturers to pay financial incentives to those returning old thermostats to encourage greater participation.
“Mercury is a neurotoxin that can cause birth defects and other health problems. This kind of extended producer responsibility legislation will lead to a healthier environment, and help protect our state’s air, land, and water resources,” says Andrew Radin, chairman of the New York Product Stewardship Council (NYPSC). “The Council commends Gov. Cuomo for signing this important environmental bill into law, and for supporting a product stewardship system of managing materials that are difficult to recycle or dispose of at the end of their useful life.”
Madison County and many other local governments called on the State Legislature to adopt a mandatory thermostat collection program.
According to the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC), New York State collects only one percent of the estimated 310,000 mercury thermostats that are taken out of service every year in New York. As a result, more than one ton of mercury enters the state’s waste stream and environment each year.