Pennsylvania DEP Approves Plans to Collect and Recycle Mercury Thermostats

Recycling Reduces Threats to Human Health and the Environment

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of
Environmental Protection has approved two plans to collect and recycle mercury
thermostats, which will reduce the amount of mercury released into the
environment. The plans are part of the new Mercury-Free Thermostat Act which
requires the recycling of out-of-service mercury thermostats. The law will
take effect Dec. 8.

"Mercury is a toxic metal that can accumulate in living tissue and cause
adverse health effects such as severe nerve and brain damage," said DEP
Secretary John Hanger. "When a mercury thermostat is broken and placed in a
landfill or burned in an incinerator, the mercury can contaminate the air,
surface water and ground water. By taking these outdated devices out of
circulation and disposing of them in a proper manner, we are eliminating
unnecessary releases of mercury into our environment. This will make our air,
land and water safer for us all."

A single thermostat contains approximately 4 grams of mercury. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency estimates that, each year, 6 to 8 tons of
mercury ends up in solid waste facilities and up to 2 tons are released into
the air.

Under the new law, manufacturers who have sold mercury thermostats in
Pennsylvania must collect and recycle waste mercury thermostats at no cost to
contractors and homeowners. Wholesalers located in Pennsylvania must serve as
collection sites for the thermostats. The law also requires retailers and
contractors to either participate as collection points or provide notice to
customers that recycling of mercury thermostats is required by law and
identify locations of nearby collection points.

DEP received two plans for manufacturers to establish collection and recycling
programs in Pennsylvania. The plans were submitted by the Thermostat Recycling
Corporation (TRC) of Arlington, Virginia and EWC Controls Inc. of Englishtown,
New Jersey. TRC is a nonprofit organization that currently represents 29
manufacturers nationwide that have distributed over 65 brands of mercury
thermostats. TRC sponsored collection sites will accept all brands of mercury
thermostats. EWC Controls sold thermostats nationwide under its brand name
through wholesale operations from 1989 to 2007. This collection and recycling
program is for EWC Controls brand name thermostats only. Both companies are
voluntarily collecting thermostats in advance of the law's effective date in
December.

For more information, or to view the approved TRC and EWC Controls collection
and recycling plans, please visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: "Mercury"
or call DEP's Bureau of Waste Management at 717-787-6239.

Media contact: John Repetz, 717-787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

John Repetz of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
+1-717-787-1323