Mercurial Messes

Peter Bitto, an Australian who happened upon my article on Communitypress.com, brought to my attention this article in Science News Online.

The article brings into question my assertion that "Small amounts of mercury, like the 5 milligrams in a CFL, are absolutely safe in the landfill because of the myriad precautions modern landfills take to ensure contaminates never leak into the natural environment."

I'm going to look into this with our Enforcement Officer here at Boone County Solid Waste. She has been certified as a Landfill Manager by the Kentucky EPA and I have a lot of questions. If this report is true, why wasn't it something that is covered by her training? If this truly is a problem in our region, how can we create an ongoing program to help local agencies deal with it? Who can I contact to test our local landfill (Bavarian Waste Services) for this deadly junk?

What I do know is this: As long as I've been working here, I've been told that tiny amounts of mercury (thermostats, thermometers) are fine for the landfill. The KY EPA field office in Florence (859-525-4923) has told us that they will accept mercury from private residents but they asked that we not advertise it because they're afraid of the volume they'd receive. Residents are always welcome to take mercury to Environmental Enterprises but it's a pretty long drive from Boone County and they will charge you for what you bring.

There is good news. On November 17, 2007, there will be a totally FREE computer and mercury collection event. It will be at the Sanitation District #1 in Fort Wright and is sponsored by a mess of private companies and public entities. And I helped!