ELEMENTAL MERCURY COLLECTION AND RECLAMATION PROGRAM

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The program involves the collection of uncontaminated elemental mercury from a variety of sources. These sources include thermometers, manometers, barometers, sphygmomanometers (blood pressure measurement devices), mercury-containing heating thermostats, mercury switches, as well as individual containers of elemental mercury. The program is available and FREE to individuals, academic institutions, small businesses, industries, medical and dental facilities, emergency response and other governmental agencies, spill response companies, and any additional entity having unwanted, uncontaminated elemental mercury. Although this service is free, a Foundation account has been established for tax free donations to help defer the costs of running this program.

The process involved in the collection and reclamation program is relatively straightforward. The entity having the mercury makes contact with one of the  main participants in the program to arrange for the collection of the mercury. At the time of the initial contact, instructions are provided for the proper packaging of the container(s). The instructions for thermometers, thermostats, switches, etc. include placing the device(s) in  ziplock bags. Containers of bulk mercury should have the cap/lid of the container sealed with electrician’s tape (not duct tape),  placing the container in a plastic ziplock bag (if possible), sealing the bag, and placing it in a secondary plastic container. There is no need to have shock absorbent within the secondary container. These materials can become contaminated should there be a release of mercury within the container. The secondary container, of course, should be closed/sealed for further protection. Thermometers and other mercury-containing devices are placed into protected and sealed containers as their size allows.

The container(s) of mercury are then collected by one of the program participants according to the pick up arrangements. The movement of mercury by private individuals is not encouraged, particularly for quantities of mercury greater than one pound (two teaspoons). Releases of uncontained mercury within a transportation vehicle could result in expensive cleanup and possible loss of the vehicle. Only those having the technical knowledge relating to mercury hazards and the capability of moving the material safely are permitted to collect the containers.

During transportation of the mercury, the containers may be placed into other types of storage units (e.g. small plastic coolers, overpack drums) for additional safety. Vehicles used to transport the mercury contain mercury spill materials and protective gloves should a spill occur. A cellular phone is also available should an incident occur. A  Bill-of-Lading shipping paper system is used to track the shipments of mercury from pickup to final disposition. Copies of the shipping paper are made available to the shipper, the transporter, and the receiver (BGSU).

Primarily, the containers of mercury are brought to Bowling Green State University’s  Hazardous Waste Storage Facility. The facility is located in the northern section of the campus, away from academic buildings and easily accessible by highway. The containers are placed into a separate room specifically designed for poisonous materials.

The mercury remains in that area until the mercury is consolidated. Rader Environmental Services, a hazardous waste management company, consolidates the bulk mercury and mercury-containing devices. Mercury-containing devices such as thermometers and switches are individually packed into  five-gallon plastic pails. Bulk mercury and mercury removed from blood pressure devices are consolidated into a large cylindrical shipping container. This container is supplied by Bethlehem Apparatus Products for shipping to their facility where the bulk mercury is reclaimed.

Consolidation of bulk mercury takes place within well ventilated areas or in rooms containing a fume hood. Should there be a need for consolidation in locations not having a working fume hood, the consolidation is performed using a  clean five-gallon plastic pail containing dry ice. The dry ice is used to minimize the release of mercury vapors during the transfer. Individuals consolidating the mercury also use personal protective equipment, including a respirator.

As often as necessary, containers of consolidated mercury are transported using a regulated transport vehicle to several locations. Mercury-containing devices are shipped to Mercury Waste Solutions of Union Grove, Wisconsin. Bulk mercury, as mentioned previously, is shipped to Bethlehem Apparatus Products of Hellertown, Pennsylvania. Bills-of-Lading are used during the transport and Certificates of Recycling are obtained for the mercury sent for reclamation.

Since the program began, over 21,000 pounds of mercury have been removed from a variety of sources throughout Ohio as well as from locations in Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and as far away as Georgia, Texas and Nebraska. Other counties in Northwest Ohio (Allen, Erie, Henry, Huron, Ottawa, Paulding, Defiance, Mercer, and Williams) have also established cooperative mercury collection programs. We are also assisting the Ohio EPA Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention in helping hospitals and other medical care facilities with pollution prevention programs. We also serve as a resource for the removal of elemental mercury from those facilities.

BGSU has also assisted communities in thermometer exchange projects. BGSU has a working relationship with OMRON Healthcare Products form Vernon Hills, Illinois in obtaining  digital thermometers at a reduced cost. BGSU arranges for the delivery of the digital thermometrers directly to the exchange program sponser. Following the exchange program, the mercury thermometers are collected and placed within BGSU's collection and reclamation program.

BGSU has also been directly involved with thermometer exchange projects. During 2001, the University, in conjunction with area health departments, sponsored thermometer exchange projects in four northeast Ohio counties. In 2002, BGSU, through grant funding from the Ohio EPA, conducted thermometer exchange projects in 22 southeastern Ohio counties. Working with 29 county and city health departments within the region, the partnership prorams were able to remove almost 8,300  mercury-containing thermometers from the area.

Participants in any of the mercury collection and reclamation program efforts will continue to provide information on the potential hazards associated with elemental mercury through news releases, formal presentations, and other feasible means. 

It is hoped that others will take advantage of this valuable program and we will succeed in reducing the amount of mercury in locations where it is not necessary. 

It is up to individual citizens, academic institutions, medical facilities, industries, and others to make the determination to take advantage of this most important program.  In doing so, we decrease the risk of spills and the potential of unnecessary personal and environmental contamination.