The goal of MERC is to protect human health and the environment from mercury contamination, by reducing and where possible eliminating the deliberate use and associated emissions of mercury.
MERC achieves this goal by:
- Identifying and promoting safe alternatives to mercury-added products;
- Building partnerships and creating the infrastructure to collect, recycle and retire mercury from commercial use; and,
- To raise public and corporate awareness of the options and opportunities to reduce the use, and ensure proper disposal of, mercury-added products.
Areas of Focus:
- The
MERC Switch-Out
The first of its kind in Canada, Pollution Probe is leading an effort to develop and implement a programme to recover mercury switches from automobiles. It is a positive, solutions-oriented response to one of the largest current and continuing sources of mercury emissions, and demonstrates the potential for reducing mercury emissions through pollution prevention and product collection approaches. - Mercury Thermometer Take-Back and Exchange
Project
We are working to engage pharmacies in a program to eliminate the sale of mercury fever thermometers, to offer discounts on digital thermometers when mercury thermometers are returned, and to provide a drop-off service for individuals who want to properly dispose of their household mercury thermometers. Education of the public around mercury-added products, alternatives, and product disposal will be a key component of this project. Please stay tuned for our fall launch of this project.