ARLINGTON, Va. - The Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) announced a 28 percent increase in its overall collections in 2010. With the support of over 3,600 HVAC wholesale distributors, HVAC contractors, local governments, and retailers acting as collection points, TRC recovered nearly 1 ton of mercury during the year.

TRC’s collection sites in Maryland, California, Florida, and Pennsylvania recovered the most mercury with 385 pounds, 188 pounds, 134 pounds, and 99 pounds respectively.

Additionally, TRC added over 700 new collection locations in 2010. The vast majority were HVAC wholesale distributors, which have volunteered to collect and arrange for transport waste mercury thermostats. In the last two years, TRC has added over 1,400 collection locations to its network.

“Without the participation and support of the HVAC industry, this increase in collections would not have been possible,” said Mark Tibbetts, executive director of TRC. “We are particularly pleased with the increase in collection sites resulting from the relationship with Heating Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI). Their support has been instrumental in recent growth.”

Publication date: 06/06/2011