GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT

Want a Mercury Reduction Program in Your Area?

Government and Community Projects

State and Local Programs

Mercury Legislation

 Interested in having a mercury reduction program in your area?

You can do many things to help decrease the amount of mercury entering the environment in your area. The most common programs are mercury thermometer exchange programs, mercury collection days, public education about mercury issues, and mercury reduction pledges for businesses and organizations. This page contains information to help you decide which type of program or programs would work best for your locale, and give you some of the tools you need for successful mercury reduction.

Tryon, N.C.: A Case Study

Extensive efforts by the town of Tryon to locate industrial or historical sources of mercury in their wastewater treatment system were unsuccessful. In 2001, Tryon launched a public education and mercury reduction campaign to further address the problem. As part of this campaign, six articles on mercury were published in the local paper in the weeks leading up to a Mercury Collection Day Event. Additionally, area businesses were asked to sign the Silver Star Mercury Reduction Pledge. Following the event, Tryon has had no further problems meeting its wastewater permit's mercury limit. The articles, pledge, advertisements for the event, a press release, and a complete case study summary are linked below. 

• Press release: State/Local Partnership Assists Town of Tryon in Mercury Reduction Efforts

• Case study

A series of six articles about mercury:

• General mercury information

• Health effects of mercury

• Mercury in North Carolina

• Industrial and institutional uses of mercury

• Mercury in the home

• Mercury in Tryon

Silver Star Mercury Reduction Pledge

Tryon newspaper advertisements

• Collection event ad: Town to Hold Mercury Collection Event

• Silver Star ad: Tryon Businesses Voluntarily Pledge to Reduce Mercury

Gastonia, N.C.: A Case Study

In the summer of 2002, the city of Gastonia held a mercury collection and thermometer exchange event. Four articles on mercury ran in the local paper in the weeks leading up to the event. A case study of the event, an advertising flier, and an informational brochure handed out at the event are linked below.

Case study

Brochure: Mercury, You, Your Health, and Your Home. A general brochure for public information on mercury health impacts, locations mercury is found in the home, and what to do in case of home mercury spills. Gastonia handed this brochure out to the public at its mercury collection event.

Flier: Is MERCURY Lurking in Your Home? A flier announcing Gastonia's mercury collection and thermometer exchange event.

 Government and Community Projects

Full Title: Report on Automotive Mercury Switch Removal Programs
Full Work Author: Michelle Gaither, Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center
Abstract: Background information on mercury switches in vehicles, a synopsis of mercury removal programs, pros and cons of voluntary programs and recommendations to Washington state's King County.

Full Title: Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association: Mercury Reduction Programs
Full Work Author: Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association
Abstract: Search this database to find out what mercury reduction programs are taking place nationally, or add information about a program that your organization has created. 

Full Title: Ecosuperior’s Merc-Divert Superior
Full Work Author: Ecosuperior
Abstract: A nonprofit organization assisting with mercury reduction in the Great Lakes region.

Full Title: Mercury Thermostat Recycling 
Full Work Author: Peaks to Prairies, EPA Region 8’s pollution prevention information center
Abstract: Mercury thermostat recycling page

Full Title: Developing a Virtual Elimination Strategy for Mercury
Full Work Author: U.S. EPA
Abstract: An “options paper” that describes a series of potential actions to reduce mercury use and release in the Great Lakes basin.

Full Title: Mercury Reduction Activities Reported from Around the Great Lakes
Full Work Author: U.S. EPA
Abstract: Describes a diverse array of activities that have been undertaken by local, industrial, nonprofit, state, provincial or federal entities in the Great Lakes Basin that are responsive to the goals and objectives of the Binational Toxics Strategy (BNS)

Full Title: Mercury Free NIH Campaign, 
Full Work Author: NIH Division of Safety - Bethesda, Md.
Abstract: Links to mercury-related Web sites, guidance documents, health advisories, etc.

Full Title: Program to Rid VT Schools of Unwanted Science Lab Chemicals
Full Work Author: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
Abstract: This document discusses a cleanout project started to eliminate mercury in science laboratories. Schools are assisted with inventory and clean-out of unwanted, unlabeled and unknown hazardous lab chemicals, including mercury and mercury compounds.

Full Title: The Ritual Use of Mercury Program
Full Work Author: U.S. EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Abstract: A public education campaign directed to Haitian- and Caribbean-American communities, particularly those that practice spiritist faiths such as Santeria. 

Full Title: The Plan for Tri-National Mercury Deposition Network
Full Work Author: Sweet, Clyde - Illinois Water Survey; Schroeder, Bill - Environment Canada
Abstract: Working to obtain sufficient monitoring information on wet deposition of mercury to construct isopleth maps for the United States, Canada and Mexico, to determine short- and long-term trends, and to carry out intensive evaluation of dry deposition and source identification at a sufficient number of sites to be able to extrapolate these processes to the continental scale.

Full Title: Mercury Deposition Network
Full Work Author: National Atmospheric Deposition Program
Abstract: Developing a national database of weekly concentrations of total mercury in precipitation and the seasonal and annual flux of total mercury in wet deposition. 

Full Title: Mercury Poisoning Project
Full Work Author: Wendroff, Arnold - Mercury Poisoning Project
Abstract: Provides up-to-date information on the environmental health risks and effects from domestic and commercial mercury exposures.