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IDEM > Your Environment > Mercury > Mercury Thermostat Reduction and Recycling Pledge Program > Contractors Contractors

To achieve these goals, IDEM encourages all HVAC-R contractors, suppliers and wholesalers to participate in our program. The pledge program consists of four parts:

  • Educate the public on the hazards of mercury and encourage their participation in this program,
  • Encourage the Indiana public to replace unusable or unwanted mercury-containing thermostats with digital or mercury-free thermostats,
  • Ensure that mercury-containing thermostats are returned to a participating supplier for recycling with TRC (Thermostat Recycling Corporation), and
  • Keep a supply of digital or mercury-free thermostats on hand.

The recycling portion of this program is offered by the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC). The recycling of these mercury-containing thermostats is offered free-of-charge to all contractors. TRC offers mercury-thermostat collection bins to all Indiana HVAC-R wholesalers and suppliers. The wholesalers/suppliers who participate will pay a one-time deposit fee and receive the thermostat collection bin and directions for pick-up of a full bin. TRC will handle the fees for shipping, handling, and recycling of the mercury-containing thermostats.

IDEM is asking all contractors to collect any old, discarded mercury-containing thermostats at your shop. Collection of these thermostats as a whole unit is not inconsistent with the regulations. The key is to collect the thermostats as whole units - with the casing. DO NOT remove the mercury bulb or drain the liquid mercury from a thermostat. Collect the entire thermostat (non-damaged) and place them in some type of a sturdy, non-leaking container. Each contractor can bring their thermostats to the participating local wholesaler/supplier. TRC will handle the rest of the process to include recycling of the mercury in each thermostat.

If your company is interested in participating in the Mercury Thermostat Reduction and Recycling Pledge Program, please read and sign the Contractor Pledge Form. Once received by IDEM, the form will be signed, dated and a copy will be returned to you. In addition to the signed form, you will also receive copies of the posters, window stickers, patches and fact sheets. Please indicate the number of each free promotional item along with your address on the reverse side of the pledge sheet. Please either return the bottom portion by fax to 317/233-5627, e-mail, or mail.

For questions or more information, contact:

Cheri Storms
E-mail: cstorms at idem.IN.gov

Thanks for your interest in working together to protect Indiana's environment. Through reduction initiatives like this one, Indiana can become a cleaner, healthier place to live.