Illinois’ New Mercury Containing Thermostat Regulations Applauded
Past successes and the acceptance that no one manufactures mercury-containing thermostats for the residential market were never taken into consideration.
SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): During a recent review of its plan for recycling mercury-containing thermostats, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency changed the goals set under the state’s Thermostat Collection Act for the years 2015 to 2020. The amended guidelines acknowledge that the original numerical collection goals calling for a specific number of mercury-containing thermostats were unrealistic moving forward. The regulation modified both collection targets and added a series of programmatic activities to complete annually.
“We applaud the Illinois EPA in formulating new guidelines regarding mercury-containing thermostats that recognize the reality of the marketplace and the continued diminishing returns we can expect,” said Ryan Kiscaden, executive director, Thermostat Recycling Corp. (TRC). “We reached the apex of our collection process in 2014, and through our efforts and other industry partners, we have successfully recycled millions of mercury-containing thermostats throughout the United States and tens of thousands in Illinois.”
TRC’s support of the Illinois action acknowledges the state’s realistic appraisal of the marketplace and the work the program has already achieved. Some environmental advocates continue to maintain the pursuit of numerical recycling targets that were set years ago, either voluntarily or by state mandates. Kiscaden said those goals did not have merit then, and the truth is playing out in the present. Past successes and the acceptance that no one manufactures mercury-containing thermostats for the residential market were never taken into consideration.
Courtesy: https://wasteadvantage.com