Oregon Collection Program Nets 85 Pounds of Mercury

A 16-month statewide rebate program focused on collecting mercury-containing manometers used in dairy milking operations has resulted in the collection and eventual recycling of 85 pounds of mercury in Oregon, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). 

 The DEQ Solid Waste Program administered the program in partnership with the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, OSU Extension Service and Oregon Department of Agriculture. The 85 pounds of mercury collected is equivalent to the mercury found in about 77,000 mercury fever thermometers, 5 million four-foot-long mercury-containing fluorescent lights or 39,000 mercury-containing vehicle light switches. 

Mercury manometers are used in dairy operations to measure pressure variations in automated milking line operations as milk is removed and transported from cows to bulk tanks. Each manometer contains approximately 2 pounds of mercury. 

 The manometer collection program, which started March 2005 and concluded in June of 2006, netted 38 manometers and other mercury-related items, according to Judy Henderson, DEQ solid waste specialist. DEQ picked up the manometers from 34 dairies -- about one-tenth of all Oregon dairies.

Under the program, provided by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant, participants received up to a $300 rebate toward the purchase and installation of a mercury-free digital vacuum gauge. As an option, dairies could receive a $50 cash payment by turning in mercury-containing manometers no longer in use. A total of $6,234 in rebate coupons was redeemed.

All mercury collected through the manometer program was sent to Mercury Waste Solutions, in Union Grove, Wis., where it will be recycled.