Most Rhode Islanders have a mercury thermostat in their home. Of the 665,000 thermostats in Rhode Island homes, there are 552,500 mercury thermostats. Since approximately 3% of those get replaced annually, over 120 pounds of mercury could be released to the environment each year.
Fish Advisory
Pregnant and nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and young children should not eat any of the following fish:
Limit all other fish to 6 ounces per week for adults or 2 ounces per week for children.
In 2010, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed the Mercury Thermostat Pollution Prevention Act in the Senate (S2353A) and the House (H7199A).
The law also requires all HVAC wholesale distributors with facilities in Rhode Island to act as a collection point for waste mercury thermostats as of February 1, 2011.
The Rhode Island thermostat collection law is supported by manufacturers, state agencies and environmental groups including Honeywell, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Rhode Island Department of Health, Clean Water Action, and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.
By passing this law, the General Assembly took a critical step to prevent mercury pollution from thermostats and to protect the health and development of our children. This law will prevent significant public health and environmental problems by stopping hundreds of pounds of mercury from being released to Rhode Island's air, soil and water.
Make the Switch to a Mercury-Free Thermostat
Installing an efficient, mercury-free thermostat in your home will help save your budget and help protect the environment. National Grid offers their customers that heat with natural gas a rebate for purchasing EnergyStar thermostats of $25 each for up to 2 thermostats per household. Go to ThinkSmartThinkGreen.com for more information.
Recycle Your Old Thermostat
Need to recycle an old mercury thermostat? Go to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation for information about the EcoDepot's upcoming collection dates.
Wholesalers Sign Up
If you are an HVAC wholesaler, contact the Thermostats Recycling Corporation to order your collection container.