DEP Publishes Mercury Thermostat Collection, Recycling Program For Comment

The Department of Environmental Protection has received a plan to establish a Mercury Thermostat Collection and Recycling Program from the Thermostat Recycling Corporation of Arlington, VA and is now accepting comments on the plan. The plan is required by the Mercury-Free Thermostat Act.

 

The deadline for comments on the plan is July 13. (formal notice)

 

The TRC is a nonprofit organization that currently represents 25 manufacturers that have distributed over 60 brands of mercury thermostats. The TRC has supported a voluntary Program in this Commonwealth since 2000, resulting in the collection of over 37,000 thermostats and the recycling of over 356 pounds of mercury.

 

The act requires each manufacturer of mercury thermostats that have been sold in this Commonwealth to, individually or collectively, establish and maintain a Department-approved collection and recycling program for out-of-service mercury thermostats from wholesalers, contractors and retailers, service technicians and homeowners.

 

Written comments concerning TRC's proposed Program may be submitted to Glenn Mitzel, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waste Management, Division of Hazardous Waste Management, P. O. Box 8471, Harrisburg, PA 17105.

 

DEP said the proposed plan will be posted on the Mercury-Free Thermostat webpage. Persons interested in obtaining the more information or a paper copy of the proposed plan should contact Glenn Mitzel by sending email to: glmitzel@state.pa.us or calling 717-787-6239.