TRC marks Oct. 24 Mercury Thermostat Recycling Day

Thermostat Recycling Corp. is urging consumers and HVAC contractors to check for mercury thermostats and recycle them on Oct. 24. The push comes as older units remain in homes and job sites, even though mercury thermostats were phased out years ago.

Why it matters: - Mercury thermostats can still turn up in older homes and on job sites. - Proper recycling keeps mercury out of landfills and the environment. - TRC says the effort supports public health by preventing toxic material from entering the waste stream.

What happened: - Thermostat Recycling Corp. is promoting Recycle Your Mercury Thermostat Day on Saturday, Oct. 24. - The campaign asks consumers and contractors to inspect thermostats for mercury and recycle older units properly. - TRC executive director Danielle Myers said the day is meant to spread awareness and encourage people to make a positive impact.

The details: - TRC marks its 28th anniversary this year. - The nonprofit was founded in 1998 by three leading manufacturers. - TRC and its partners have recycled more than 3 million thermostats and recovered more than 14 tons of mercury. - Mercury thermostats were phased out between 2004 and 2007. - TRC says its collection network includes wholesalers, retailers and household hazardous waste facilities. - These locations receive recycling containers from TRC, collect thermostats and ship them to a processing facility that removes the mercury and stores it safely. - Mercury cannot be destroyed because it is an element, making recycling essential. - TRC created Recycle Your Mercury Thermostat Day in 2018. - The day falls during TRC’s 15th annual "Banish Mercury Off the Planet" competition, which runs May 1 through Oct. 31. - Winners of the BMOP competition will be announced in December. - TRC says consumers and contractors can find the nearest recycling location at the thermostat recycling locator by entering a ZIP code.

Between the lines: - The campaign targets two groups with the most direct access to old thermostats: homeowners and HVAC professionals. - TRC is leaning on its distributor and collection-site network to make recycling easy and routine. - The annual event doubles as a reminder that legacy mercury products can remain in circulation long after a phaseout.

What's next: - TRC will continue the awareness campaign through Oct. 24 and the rest of the BMOP competition window. - HVACR wholesalers competing in BMOP will be recognized later this year. - TRC says it remains focused on finding remaining mercury thermostats across the U.S.