Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) is pleased to announce that they have partnered with New Hampshire-based Wheelabrator Technologies (Wheelabrator) to assist in the collection of mercury-containing thermostats in Massachusetts. This collection program is part of the Mass Save energy efficiency installation and weatherization program, funded by a coalition of utility companies.
"We are excited to partner with Wheelabrator to encourage and ensure the safe collection of mercury-containing thermostats under the Mass Save program," said Ryan Kiscaden, TRC's executive director. "When you have a committed strategic partner as we do with Wheelabrator, staff that understand the ease of the recycling process, and an informed public that encourages recycling efforts, it increases the recycling rates of these devices dramatically."
Under this agreement, TRC will provide free recycling containers for consolidating mercury thermostats that have been replaced in homes and businesses under the Mass Save energy efficiency program. Wheelabrator will facilitate the shipping of these devices from participating trade partners or local utilities. Lastly, TRC will process, count, and dispose of the thermostats collected. Reporting will be made available to any interested stakeholders including utility companies, participating trade allies, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
"Wheelabrator looks forward to working with TRC to provide a proactive, coordinated solution for the collection of thermostats as part of the Mass Save program," said Jim Connolly, vice president of environmental, health & safety for Wheelabrator. "The ability to utilize TRC's recycling services ensures the safe and cost-effective handling of mercury-containing thermostats. This agreement plays a key role in meeting the mercury recovery goals outlined in Wheelabrator's Material Separation Plan for Massachusetts, aimed at diverting mercury from the waste stream to prevent it from being processed at our energy-from-waste facilities."
The Mass Save energy efficiency program has the potential to extract substantial mercury thermostats for recycling, allowing Massachusetts to capture one of the last reservoirs of mercury still in service. For more information regarding state regulations on the disposal of mercury-containing thermostats, visit here.
About TRC Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) was founded in 1998 as an industry-funded nonprofit. Membership consist of 31 manufacturers who either branded and sold mercury thermostats in the U.S. prior to their discontinuation in 2007, or produced devices that may replace mercury-containing thermostats.
With a network of more than 3,400 collection sites nationwide, TRC has recovered more than 2.1 million thermostats, or 10 tons of mercury, to date. TRC assumes all costs to transport and properly dispose of recovered thermostats.
Visit thermostat-recycle.org to learn more and find a recycling location near you.
About Wheelabrator
Wheelabrator Technologies is the second largest U.S. energy-from-waste business, and an industry leader in the conversion of everyday residential and business waste into clean energy. Wheelabrator has a platform of 23 power-producing assets across the US and UK: 19 energy-from-waste facilities; four independent power plants; four ash monofills; and three transfer stations. Wheelabrator currently has an annual waste processing capacity of over 7.5 million tons, and a total combined electric generating capacity of 853 megawatts—enough energy to power more than 805,000 homes. Wheelabrator also recovers metals for recycling into commercial products.
Wheelabrator is owned by Energy Capital Partners, an energy infrastructure-focused private equity firm. To learn more, visit Energy Capital Partners at ecpartners.com or Wheelabrator at wtienergy.com.
