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Day Kimball Hospital, Wheelabrator Putnam and Waste Management of Eastern Connecticut in Conjunction with the Rotary Club of Plainfield to Sponsor Community Mercury Thermometer Exchange

PUTNAM, CT (October 10, 2001) - In an effort to help remove mercury from local homes and the environment, Day Kimball Hospital, Wheelabrator Putnam and Waste Management of Eastern Connecticut in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Plainfield have announced a mercury thermometer exchange program for Thursday, October 18 from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm at the Health Network of New England Medical Arts Building, 31 Dow Road (off of Route 12) in Plainfield. Paul Sweet, first selectman of the Town of Plainfield, and Dr. Ann Errichetti, president of Day Kimball Hospital will lead the program in which community members may bring their mercury thermometers from home and exchange them for new, digital thermometers provided by Wheelabrator. The exchanged mercury thermometers will then be safely recycled.

Mercury has been classified as a high priority pollutant and targeted by the Federal Government for the virtual elimination of use. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, while the amount of mercury in an individual thermometer may seem small, the total amount that is released into the environment as a result of total thermometer use is significant. Thermometers containing an estimated 17 tons of mercury are discarded annually in the United States, making thermometers the largest single source of mercury in municipal solid waste.

The October 18 mercury thermometer exchange program follows an extremely successful similar program between Day Kimball, Wheelabrator Putnam and Wheelabrator Lisbon last May at the hospital in Putnam in which an estimated 2,000 new, digital thermometers were given out in exchange for mercury thermometers. Officials believe that program was the largest single, one-day mercury thermometer exchange ever held in the state of Connecticut.

Day Kimball Hospital is very pleased to partner with Wheelabrator Putnam, Waste Management of Eastern Connecticut and the Rotary Club of Plainfield to provide this valuable community service, said hospital President Dr. Ann Errichetti. This exchange will give members of the community a convenient opportunity to receive new, digital thermometers while at the same time helping to protect the environment.

Wheelabrator has been a national waste management industry leader in addressing mercury pollution by advancing scientific research, conducting successful multi-state mercury thermometer recycling efforts and providing comprehensive public education programs. While its 16 trash-to-energy facilities all meet strict federal and state requirements for controlling mercury emissions, Wheelabrator remains committed to reducing mercury at its source before it makes its way into the solid waste stream.

This initiative will help substantially reduce the amount of mercury tossed into the trash, providing additional protection for Connecticut citizens, said John O'Rourke, Wheelabrator Lisbon Manager.

For more information about this program, contact Day Kimball Hospital's Philanthropy Office at 928-7141.

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