Collection Date For Local Residents Is October 14 In Danbury—

Connecticut Officials Continuing Mercury Reduction Campaign

DANBURY — For residents with homes in Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding and Ridgefield, October 14 marks the opportunity for a local collection of mercury thermometers.

Danbury’s Public Works Facility, on Newtown Road, will conduct its next Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, October 14, from 9 am to 2 pm. During this time, anyone possessing a mercury thermometer can also stop in the collection center and exchange their thermometer for a new digital thermometer, free of charge.

The State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection began a mercury reduction campaign last month as part of its annual Pollution Prevention Week by setting a goal of reducing 2,001 pounds of mercury in Connecticut by the end of the year 2001. To reach the goal, the CT DEP will be sponsoring many activities over the next year to reduce mercury in our environment such as mercury thermometer swaps.

DEP Commissioner Arthur J. Rocque, Jr unveiled a six foot-tall thermometer display in September that will illustrate the number of pounds of mercury collected over the coming year.

“Connecticut’s goal to collect 2,001 pounds of mercury over the next year is an aggressive one. Once we educate Connecticut’s consumers on the importance of mercury reduction and show them how easy it is to reduce it, we can make our target,” said Mr Rocque. “Connecticut’s consumers, businesses and government agencies can help reduce mercury in our environment by taking part in activities throughout the coming year.”

At a thermometer swap held at the State Capitol on September 20, over 1,100 mercury fever thermometers were exchanged for digital thermometers. At previous events approximately 200 thermometers were exchanged. Already, over 250 pounds of mercury have been removed from the environment.

“Reducing Mercury in the Environment” is the theme of Connecticut’s effort.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element. It is a metal, conducts electricity, and has the ability to combine easily with metals. It is liquid at room temperature and has been used in many household, medical and industrial products such as thermometers and thermostats.

“Although mercury performs many useful functions, it is toxic to humans and wildlife and can impair our health when it is released into the environment through spills or incineration,” said Dr Joxel Garcia, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Mercury can act as a poison, causing a number of health problems affecting the brain, central nervous system, liver and kidneys. Children, especially those under the age of 6, are very susceptible to mercury poisoning.

Over the next year, Connecticut’s goal will be attained by providing thermometer swaps around the state, usually through towns’ household hazardous waste collections; conducting educational workshops to instruct car dealerships on the safe removal of mercury switches in the trunk car lights of automobiles; and organizing a clean-out of mercury and hazardous chemicals at six pilot schools in Connecticut.

Since 1997, there have been 21 mercury spills in Connecticut. Mercury spills range in size from a broken thermometer to spilled jars containing many grams of mercury. Spills have led to lawsuits, arrests, exposure to children and workers, and harmful releases to the environment.

Mercury that is released into the environment through spills or incineration is toxic to humans and wildlife. Fish located in mercury-contaminated waters bioaccumulate high levels of toxic methylmercury, which is then passed along the food chain.

It is also estimated that one-third of the mercury entering the atmosphere originates from the incineration of mercury-containing products disposed of in the trash. Although mercury thermometers are not harmful when used properly, they pose a threat to human health and the environment when broken or disposed of as trash. Non-mercury thermometers provide an excellent means to make simple adjustments in behavior and while also preventing further pollution from reaching the environment.

State Environmental and Health Officials announced Connecticut’s “Mercury Reduction Plan” during its annual Pollution Prevention Week. The state plan, “Toward the Virtual Elimination of Mercury from the Solid Waste Stream,” details actions required to accomplish two initiatives. The initiatives are collecting existing stocks of elemental mercury from households and schools, and ensuring that elemental mercury and mercury in products is not released to the environment in the future.

Collection locations include household hazardous waste collections, scrap metal businesses, and retail establishments. Manufacturer take-back programs are also encouraged in the plan, where product makers are asked to take back its products at the end of the product’s useful life.

For more information, call the public works department in Newtown at 270-4307 or the Connecticut DEP’s Office of Communications at 860/424-4100. Residents of towns not listed in the first paragraph should also contact the DEP office to find out when their next local collection day will be held.