Thermostat Recycling Corp. 2008 collections rose 19%

June 26 -- The Thermostat Recycling Corp. collected more than 135,000 mercury-switch thermostats in 2008, diverting nearly 1,300 pounds of mercury from the solid waste stream.

The number of thermostats collected is 19% higher than 2007, according to the group´s annual report, available at www.thermostat-recycle.org. It is the third year in a row the TRC has collected more than 100,000 mercury thermostats through its programs, said Mark Tibbetts, TRC executive director.

"By supporting the collection of mercury thermostats, the manufacturers are taking an important step to reduce the environmental impact of mercury in the United States," he said.

Thermostat manufacturers formed the TRC in 1997 to collect and properly dispose of mercury-switch thermostats. The TRC represents nearly 30 manufacturers and has more than 3,000 collection containers in 48 states.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Joe Truini at 330-865-6166 or jtruini@crain.com