July 8
Mercury use in U.S. products dropped 11 percent from 2001 to 2004,
according to a report from the Northeast Waste Management Officials
Association.
The groupīs Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse found
mercury use in products sold in the United States decreased from 131 tons in
2001 to 117 tons in 2004. Switches, relays and dental amalgam capsules
accounted for about 70 percent of the mercury use, according to the online
report. In 2001, lamp manufacturers used 10.7 tons of mercury and reduced
that by 0.6 tons in 2004.
NEWMOA surveyed hundreds of manufacturers. It researched and published the
report to identify trends in mercury use and find opportunities for reducing
its use and increasing collection and recycling of mercury waste. The study,
Trends in Mercury Use in Products: Summary of the Interstate Mercury
Education and Reduction Clearinghouse Mercury-added Products Database, is
available at www.newmoa.org.
Contact Waste News reporter Joe Truini at (330) 865-6166 or
jtruini@crain.com
To subscribe or visit go to: http://www.wastenews.com