Florida Mercury Thermometer Exchanges - 1999 and 2000

Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection and Local Agencies

Program Description	The Pollution Prevention Program, with funds provided by US EPA, sponsored two medical mercury thermometer exchanges in Florida, during Pollution Prevention Week 1999 and 2000. In most, but not all cases, events were sponsored by the local Department of Health. In 1999, 31 counties serving 77% of Florida's residents held exchange events in libraries, health departments, pharmacies, malls, bookstores and public buildings. In 2000, results exceeded all expectations, almost doubling 1999’s efforts, though the number of participants was smaller. Counties attributed this success to increased public awareness and more effective advertising campaigns. Twenty counties and 2 municipalities, serving 64% of the state's population, coordinated exchange events with hospitals, schools, libraries, fire stations, senior citizen centers, and pharmacies.
Program Contact
Name	Lisa Galocy
Address	3900 Commonwealth Drive
	MS 30
City, State, Zip	Tallahassee, Florida  32399
Phone	850-245-2135
E-mail
Groups Affected	General Public, Hazardous Waste Generators, Municipalities, Pharmacies, Primary/Secondary Schools
Type of Program	Collection Program, Education and Outreach
Products Affected	Thermometers
Program Results	In 1999, a total of 6463 mercury thermometers and an additional 25.7 pounds of mercury from other devices were reclaimed, for a total of 34.9 pounds. This number was especially impressive since Hurricane Floyd ravaged the state one week earlier. DEP provided 4700 thermometers, while some local governments chose to purchase additional thermometers, for an estimated total of 8,000 distributed. In 2000, a total of 11,906 mercury thermometers and an additional 28.5 pounds of mercury collected from other devices were reclaimed for a total of 45 pounds. 12,346 digital thermometers were distributed.
Source of Funding	US EPA PPIS Grant funds, Florida DEP funds, and local agency funds.