Death by Thermostat Not an Option

I’m trying to deal responsibly with the old thermostat we just replaced. I can see the bubble of mercury. I googled for disposal advice for consumers and came up with the same answers I already know.

1) If you’re in Maine, mail in old thermostats for a $5 rebate (I’m in Florida)

2) Take it to your county’s hazardous waste center (20 miles away)

or as one busy Brooklyn-ite wrote on a forum website:

3) “Toss the freakin’ thing and be done with it.” (Don't think I'm not tempted)

But, today is one of those brilliant spring days when a ride across town to the hazardous waste disposal center seems like an adventure and not so much the hassle it actually is. Although, how prudent is a 40 mile round-trip to deliver a teardrop of mercury? Not very, if gas prices plus my valuable time and the carbon emissions I’ll generate are the issues. On the other hand, if death were the alternative, I’ll make the drive.

Death by thermostat would be slow coming from the landfill. According to the EPA mercury must bio-accumulate, first in the lower levels of the food chain, working its way up until humans ingest it.

Old landfills that were constructed without liners can leak mercury into groundwater. Today mercury is more likely to be released as a component of methane gas. But, the EPA explains, there is mitigation for that. Burn the methane.

“Combustion of landfill gas reduces the toxicity of gas emissions by converting the organic mercury compounds, including methylated mercury, to less toxic, less hazardous, inorganic mercury compounds.”(EPA)

If the landfill is burning methane as it is released, then it seems like this explanation has given me a pass in case I decide to go with the Brooklynite’s suggestion to just toss the thing.

Here I am again on the threshold of sensible sustainability. Because there is no easy-to-use community infrastructure in place for retrieval of items containing small amounts of hazardous material like my old thermostat, I am totally responsible for the decision to do what is best for the environment. Drive 20 miles or not.

Frustrated and burdened with the responsibility that knowledge brings, I googled on until - - voila! I found the Thermometer Recycling Corporation (TRC). This non-profit organization was formed by Honeywell, White-Rodgers and GE, the three largest thermostat manufacturers, to collect old thermostats and recycle the mercury. The only hitch is that the collection centers are intended for HVAC wholesalers and contractors. I called the TRC helpline at 1-800-238-8192 and a helpful tech rep explained all this to me.

“But,” he said, “I can tell you what contractors in your area have our bins, and you could contact one close to you.”

Well, there you go.

On my way into town this morning, I will go by Gemaire Distributors, only six miles away. They will graciously take my old thermostat into their care for recycling. A beautiful spring day- it’s right on the way. Totally sensible.