Jump to main content.

GLBTS Links

______________________

Mercury Links

______________________

Back to Index
exit EPA (About PDF)

Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy

Mercury

Mercury Workgroup Meeting Record
April 27, 1999

The Workgroup met on April 27-28, 1999 at the Binational Strategy Stakeholders Forum in Toronto Ontario, on the second anniversary of the signing of the agreement. A Workgroup update report (see BNS web site home page: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bns/) was presented at the April 27 morning session of Stakeholders meeting.

The Mercury Utility Subgroup met on Tuesday (April 27). A report on the meeting has been posted on the BNS Mercury Workgroup page.

Record of Workgroup Presentations:
Session 1: Strategies and Options for Further Reductions

Wisconsin"s Recommended Strategy
(Chris Churchill, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)

There are currently 330 water bodies in Wisconsin with fish consumption advisories for the presence of mercury. Coal/fuel utilities, chlor-alkali plants and incinerators are the major mercury air emission sources. The strategy has five principles:

  1. Cost - effective approach
  2. Real reductions
  3. A "Check" phase
  4. Society role
  5. Long term storage/disposal

An overview of the strategy was presented.

  1. Mercury Cap & Trade Program - 20% reduction in mercury air emissions by 2005, 50% reduction by 2010. A "check" would be done in 2005. The cap is based on a three-year baseline. In addition, all sources may trade with each other. Sources may also bank "excess" allowances against future totals.
  2. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) - Development of state-wide TMDL for atmospheric deposition of mercury. This information would then be used to reassess the 50% reduction cap (i.e. determine where the mercury is coming from and what future reductions are needed).
  3. Mercury Reduction Fund - This is to target emission reductions from smaller sources. The fund would also be used for research into mercury speciation, wildlife effects, controls, and atmospheric deposition. There would also be studies on monitoring and evaluation, and long-term storage.
  4. Regional and National Initiatives - This would include the Great Lakes Roundtable Meeting, national workshops and/or conferences, and a state-wide or multi-state TMDL approach.

Wisconsin has organized a stakeholder group to study the concept paper and to work with the state to develop a strategy. Two major issues under consideration are: (a) How to control a trading program; and (b) Should the strategy be voluntary or mandated. 
 

Minnesota Mercury Reductions Initiative
(John Gilkeson, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assessment)

Options and strategies were looked at over a two-year period. Due to the voluntary nature of the reduction initiatives, caps and trading are not being considered.

An Advisory Council for the initiative has looked at various voluntary and regulatory strategies. Ranking and selection criteria for reducing mercury emissions have been set up.

For more information on the initiative: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/mercury.html Exit disclaimer
 

Canada Wide Standards
(Ian Smith, Ontario Ministry of Environment)

This is a federal/provincial program based on cost-effective actions to reduce mercury emissions. Emission standards and initial implementation actions are due to be presented to federal/provincial environment ministers this fall. Product standards and actions are due by the spring of 2000.

A sector approach was used along with technical and economic analyses. Evaluations of actions and reduction plans in other jurisdictions were also reviewed.

Sectors under consideration are:

  1. Base metal smelting
  2. Coal fired power generation
  3. Municipal incineration
  4. Hazardous waste incineration
  5. Sludge incineration
  6. Medical waste incineration

Product standards are being considered for sewage sludge, fluorescent lamps and dental amalgam.

For more information on this initiative visit the website at http://www.ccme.ca/ourwork/air.html?category_id=85 Exit disclaimer.


Commission for Environmental Cooperation(CEC)
(Luke Trip, Environment Canada)

An overview of the NAFTA/CEC North America Mercury Action Plan involving Canada, United States and Mexico. The plan is composed of two phases.

Phase 1, which has been completed , provides a strategic framework and an approach for implementation. Phase 2 will be the Implementation Action Plan. This will deal with the prevention and reduction of mercury releases. The goals are to reduce mercury emissions from specific human activities, develop a better capacity to manage and measure emissions, and to establish an equitable implementation program.


Opportunities, Policies and Actions for Further Mercury Reductions
(A discussion facilitated by Ian Smith, Ontario Ministry of Environment)

The discussion focused on:

EPA (Alexis Cain) agreed to make the EPA web site available for information about non-mercury alternatives to mercury-containing products.

Some environmental group participants were skeptical about trading of mercury emissions, and expressed concerns about possible negative local impacts of trading. 


Session 2: Community Initiatives

Mercury in Autos

The Mercury in Autos Subgroup is looking into mercury reductions in auto manufacturing and the removal of mercury-bearing parts prior to disposal (auto scrap sector). Mercury in auto scrap leads to significant releases of mercury both from auto salvage yards and from iron and steel plants that utilize auto scrap.

Joy Taylor - Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)

An overview of mercury in the auto sector was presented

Current actions in Michigan include the distribution of the SAE Mercury Switch Removal Process to all Michigan auto salvage yards, and the requirement of mercury-bearing switch removal as a permit condition for all auto shredders. 

For further information visit the MDEQ mercury web-site Exit disclaimer. 

Bill Orr - Ford Motor Company

Bill Orr gave an overview on the auto sector phase out of mercury-bearing switches. The focus has been on switches associated with convenience lights(less than 100 mg). Chrysler has completely eliminated these switches, while Ford and GM are 50% of the way. Ford expects to eliminate all underhood switches by 2002. With respect to the ABS switches, GM has eliminated these, while Ford is expected to by 2001. Chrysler has no specified deadline at this time.

The ride control sensor (found in the suspension system) is expected to be eliminated by 2001. However, this is not found in all vehicles. These sensors generally contain less than 50 mg of mercury each. All three major companies are currently working toward the SAE standards in dismantling operations which use mercury-bearing products.

Using 1995 as a baseline, Ford has reduced mercury usage by 50%. By 2003-2004, they expect it to be 90%.

Tom Corbett - New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Tom Corbett described a switch removal and recycling program for the auto disposal sector in the state of New York. This is a highly cost-effective way to reduce mercury releases. He recommended that consideration be give to programs that encourage auto dealers to replace mercury switches as part of routine servicing. 


Mercury in Switches and Thermostats
Bruce Lourie - Lourie and Love Inc.

An overview of a study they are doing for Environment Canada on mercury reduction options for electrical products.

Mercury content in lamps has dropped significantly -- 48.2 mg/lamp (1985) to 12 mg (projected by 2000). In Canada, there are 4 tonnes of mercury released annually from the disposal of lamps. There are offsets associated with energy efficiency. Currently, there is no energy efficient alternative to fluorescent tube lamps.

For thermostats, Honeywell is working on take back program with the gas utilities. Vials are removed from the thermostats, and sent to the US. This may result in 3 kg per month separated from Ontario waste stream. In order to reduce mercury, one should consider co-benefits. The use of programmable thermostats, leads to mercury reductions and power savings. This also holds true for energy efficient lamp retrofits. 

The following must still be considered in order to facilitate mercury reduction:

  1. Rarely are capital investments made for mercury reductions alone.
  2. It is necessary to catalogue successful mercury reduction programs - i.e. best practices, available alternatives.
  3. It is important to understand the appropriate role of regulation and voluntary initiatives.


Thermostat Sub Group
Steve Keith - Honeywell, Minnesota

Mercury switch thermostats have been used since the 1940's. There are also electronic and non-mercury thermostats available . There are in excess of 50 million thermostats in North America. Honeywell is working on a recycling program; together with other thermostat manufacturers, they have formed the Thermostat Recycling Corporation. In 1998, the recycling program collected over 150 pounds of mercury. They expect to collect more in subsequent years as the program becomes better established. Delayed state adoption of streamlined requirements for handling mercury thermostats (as universal wastes) hinders the development of the collection programs in many jurisdictions

Paula Smith - Indiana

In Indiana, 131 suppliers and contractors are participating in a recycling program. Free collection is available in every count of the state

There are several ways to increase participation: a statutory disposal ban, mail-in program, brochures directed at customers to promote the program and educate the public.

Information available at the Mercury Links and Information web-site Exit disclaimer.


Healthcare and Community Projects
Susan Plewes - Ontario Hospital Association

Due to recent reductions in Ontario hospital funding, one third of hospital environmental positions are gone. This poses a major problem for this sector and for commitments to mercury reduction programs.

A new non profit organization called the Change Foundation has been established as an Ontario Hospital Association initiative with a mandate to promote health and healthcare delivery through four activity areas.

The Ontario Hospital Association will be exploring opportunities with the Change Foundation to support pollution prevention and mercury reduction programs in the healthcare sector. 


Community Collection Programs
Jake Vander Wal - Lake Superior Programs Office, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Programs Office is involved in community projects around Lake Superior. It has provided outreach in local P2 activities, an example being button battery recycling. These batteries, found in watches and hearing aids, contain up to 2.4 grams of mercury. By collecting these buttons, a significant source of mercury has been removed from the waste stream and public awareness is increased. To overcome potential regulatory issues, retailers serving as collection centers for the batteries are provided with a waiver by the Ontario Ministry of Environment. 


Householder Outreach
Ben Bennett - Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators

AMRC is involved in householder outreach in several southern Ontario communities. They are planning to hold mercury recovery workshops in four communities. Currently, outreach letters are being sent through the local Chamber of Commerce. They have produced an outreach form to provide an understanding of what mercury-containing products may be in homes.


Community/Schools Programs
Jim Rutkowski, P3Erie, Erie, Pa.

P3Erie has been involved in community mercury projects with International Paper, Harmot Hospital, dental offices and high schools. Mercury items collected included elemental, thermostats and thermometers. On Earth Day 1998 for example, 1,240 pounds of elemental mercury and 750 mercury-containing items were collected. To date, over 1,500 pounds of elemental mercury and 3,000 items have been collected. 

The key to successful outreach and collection programs are: 

  1. Have multiple collection sites
  2. Develop goals
  3. Advertise
  4. Public awareness programs
  5. Capitalize on opportunities
  6. Research alternatives


School Outreach
Rita Banach - Green Group, Toronto

Described the Eco Pals program that "twins" schools in various parts of Canada. Eco Pals, a non profit organization, has an environmental theme which seeks to involve similar age school children, supervised by their teachers, in programs that educate and increase awareness of environmental issues. The program's mechanisms and links are currently being considered in Ontario for a school based mercury education project.

For more information, see the Eco Pals Exit disclaimer web site.


Participants:

 

Local Navigation

 

Jump to main content.