The Status of Thermostat Recycling May Richard Hergenroeder

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1 The Status of Thermostat Recycling May 2009 Richard Hergenroeder

2 Lancaster County, PA 2

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4 Pit and Crane 4

5 Turbine Generator 5

6 Ferrous Recovery 6

7 Nonferrous Recovery, $1.36 7

8 Advantages of EfW 8

9 Agenda Mercury hazard Mercury sources Advocates States legislation Thermostat Recycling Corporation Issues 9

10 Mercury Hazard 10

11 Initial Risk-Based Prioritization of Mercury in Certain Products U.S. EPA Risk-Based Prioritization Document, November 2008 Environmentally persistent substance Ability to bioaccumulate Atmospherically transported on a local, regional, and global scale Transformed into methylmercury Methylmercury biomagnifies and is highly toxic 11

12 EPA is Considering the Following Actions U.S. EPA Risk-Based Prioritization Document, November 2008 TSCA 5(a)(2) manufacture/import ceased -- significant new use rule for mercury used in natural gas manometers, pyrometers, and flow meters; TSCA 6(a) alternatives exist action(s) for switches, relays, flame sensors, button cell batteries, manometers (except natural gas), barometers, and psychrometers/hygrometers. 12

13 EPA is Considering the Following Actions U.S. EPA Risk-Based Prioritization Document, November 2008 Continuing collaborative efforts to address the phasing out the use of mercury-containing non-fever thermometers; and Continuing to gather information on certain mercury-containing toys, jewelry, and novelty items. 13

14 Mercury Sources 14

15 Worldwide Mercury Sources Source: Seingeur, 2004 and Mason and Sheu,

16 U.S. Sources of Mercury Emissions, 2002 Source: U.S. EPA, National Emissions Inventory, Other 20% Coal-fired power plants 43% Medical waste incineration 0% Municipal waste combustion 4% Chlorine production 5% Gold mining 5% Hazardous waste incineration 6% Boilers and process heaters 8% Electric arc furnaces 9% 16

17 The Virginia Mercury Study VDEQ 2002 Point Source Mercury Emissions Inventory Rank Facility Name County Total (lb/yr) 1 Dominion Chesterfield Power Station Chesterfield Chaparral Steel Dinwiddie Mead Westvaco Packaging Resources Covington Covanta Fairfax, Inc. Fairfax HRSD Chesapeake-Elizabeth Sewage Virginia Beach Covanta Alexandria/Arlington, Inc. Alexandria University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia Tech Montgomery Perdue Farms Soybean Oil Processing Chesapeake

18 Mercury in Products Source: USEPA

19 Mercury in Products rce: NEWMOA JUNE

20 Advocates 20

21 Northeast Waste Management Officials Association (NEWMOA), Interstate Mercury Education & Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC) Collects and manages data submitted by manufacturers Education and outreach programs on mercury-added products State implementation of their laws Provides technical assistance, facilitate reviews 21

22 Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC) Phase-down strategy in the Great Lakes region by Sale bans and phase-outs Disposal regulations Public awareness and education programs Collection/end-of-life management for products Purchasing preferences Labeling requirements 22

23 Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) Policy Development Assistance Coordination, Facilitation, and Mediation Outreach and Education 23

24 States Legislation 24

25 Model Legislation NEWMOA - Mercury Education and Reduction Model Act PSI - Model State Mercury Thermostat Program 25

26 Comparison Of Legislation NEWMOA PSI Product labeling Sales ban on certain mercury added products Sales ban on mercury added novelty items Sales ban on mercury fever thermometers X X X X Sales ban on mercury thermostats X X Ban on use in schools Product phase-outs with exemptions X X Ban on disposal of mercury products X X Plans for collection of mercury added products X X Labeling of mercury-added products Disposal ban of mercury scrap metal facilities. Disclosure for products used in health care facilities Limitations on use of elemental mercury X X X X 26

27 IMERC Mercury Legislative Status: Mercury Legislation NY/NJ NE MID-ATLANTIC WEST SE/MI NJ NY CT MA IN MD PA VA CA HI OR MN AL FL OK MI Product Labeling X X X X X 2 X X X Sales Ban on Certain Mercury-Added Products X X X X X X X X X X Sales Ban on Mercury-Added Novelty Items X X X X X X Sales Ban on Mercury Fever Thermometers X X X X X X X X X Sales Ban on Mercury Thermostats X X X x X Bans on Use of Mercury & Certain Mercury- Added Products in K-12 Schools X X X X X Phase-Outs on Sale of Certain Mercury- Added Products with Exemptions X X X X X Bans on Disposal of Mercury Products X X X X X Plans for Collecting Mercury-Added Products X X X Disposal ban on all methods other than recycling (incineration or landfilling) X X X X IMERC MEMBER STATES: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont California, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Washington SOURCE: NEWMOA, Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association; 129 Portland Street, Suite 602; Boston, MA ; and updates by CWI staff. 27

28 Comparison Performance NEWMOA PSI Trends in Mercury Use in Products, June 2008 THERMOSTAT STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE BACKGROUND RESEARCH SUMMARY FINAL, October 18, 2004 GLRC Mercury in Products Phase-Down Strategy June 19, 2008 TRC Annual report January 22,

29 Collection and Recycling Options Municipal contracts Covanta mercury removal programs TRC collection operation 29

30 Collection and Recycling Options Municipal contracts Covanta mercury removal programs TRC collection operation 30

31 Covanta Mercury Removal Pilot Program Pittsfield, MA Began July 15, 2008 City schools & municipal buildings School site visits (5) accomplished 4Q08 Consultant 2 day cost $5350 Municipal buildings under consideration 1Q09 CVA to pay for Hg removal/recycling 2Q09 Est. cost $750 (9 thermometers; 5 hydrometers; 6 solutions of mercury nitrate; misc.) Total Estimated Costs $6,100 Estimated Collected 1653 grams 58 ounces 3.7 lbs. ~ $1,670 per lb. Collected 31

32 Covanta Mercury Removal Program Lancaster, PA April, 2009 In conjunction with LCSWA Requires drop-off $5 Lowes Gift card Total mercury collected at mid month: 435 mercury thermometers for personal use 125 mercury thermostats 19 large mercury thermometers 80 mercury tubes 35 pounds of elemental mercury Costs > $5,000 32

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38 Thermostat Recycling Corporation 38

39 Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) Private corporation established by Honeywell, General Electric and White Rodgers In coordination with U.S. EPA and state officials 39

40 TRC OPERATION How Does it Work? Collection occurs thru HVAC (not electrical) wholesalers * and qualified contractors. Participants pay $25 one time fee for collection bin (liner, twist-ties, etc) Includes mailing label TRC absorbs all other costs * Most thermostats sold through HVAC wholesalers, not retailers. 40

41 TRC OPERATION Cont. Bin ships free of charge when full to TRC clipping facility in Minnesota Ampoules are removed, sent to Bethlehem Apparatus Co. Inc. for mercury recovery Empty Bin is returned to begin again 41

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44 TRC 2007 EXPANSION TRC now operates thru local household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facilities Follows 8-month PSI* pilot in 5 states (FL, WA, IL, MN, WI) Will help facilitate collection by Homeowners Locations will be posted on TRC site and * Product Stewardship Institute 44

45 TRC COLLECTION RESULTS 1200 Yearly POUNDS STATS (100)

46 TRC CHALLENGES Liability Non conforming material Yes to HHW collection sites Contractors are primary source 46

47 Discussion 47

48 Discussion Mercury ban legislation Thermostat Recycling Corporation Covanta outreach Reduce Stack emissions 48

49 Reduce Stack Emissions Emissions Task Force Mission Move portfolio average emissions toward the best performer Other Motivators Covanta environmental bonus criteria Renewable Portfolio Standard (emissions/ MW) Regulatory agencies European development Perceptions of environmental groups Other sources of data/comparison (EPRI) 49

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