United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
SoUd Wast* and
Emergency Response
(OS-306)
EPA530-F-92-017
July 1992
Offica of Solid Wasta
&EPA
o
•o
e
Environmental
Fact Sheet
800 .
600 -
800 -
; 200-
o
CO
I
MERCURY IN THE MUNICIPAL SOLID
WASTE (MSW) STREAM
Background
Mercury is used in many applications due to its excellent ability to conduct electri-
cal current, its ability to form alloys with most metals, and its low cost Mercury is also
a toxic heavy metal with a strong tendency to bioaccumulate in the food chain, and as a
result can create serious human health and environmental problems. Global releases
of mercury in the environment stem from both natural sources and releases related to
human activities (e.g., mining and manufacturing activities, urban refuse, combustion
ash). Human activities account for releases of approximately 12,000 tons of mercury
annually into the air, soil, and water. As part of the EPA's effort to identify sources of
hazardous compounds in municipal solid waste and promote voluntary initiatives to
reduce the use of these compounds. EPA has examined the sources of mercury in MSW.
Mercury in MSW Expected to Decline Dramatically
Discards of mercury in municipal solid waste in the United States were estimated
to be 709 tons in 1989. EPA expects dramatic decreases in mercury discards in the next
several years due largely to a
long-term commitment by the
battery industry to remove or
greatly reduce mercury from
alkaline batteries through
technological innovations.
Currently, household batteries
are by far the major source of
mercury in MSW. followed, to
lesser degrees, by electric
lighting, paint residues, fever
thermometers, and thermo-
stats. The expected decrease
emphasizes the effectiveness of
source reduction* initiatives in
reducing the potential toxicity
of municipal solid waste.
Mercury levels in MSW should also decrease as the concentration of mercury in paint
residues decreases sharply, resulting from EPA bans and voluntary cancellations by
the paint industry of registrations of mercury-based bioddes in 1990 and 1991.
Tons of Mercury Discarded into Municipal Solid
Wasta Stream, 1970 to 2000
1970
1970
1990
2000
Source reduction is the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials to reduce their amount or toxidty before they
enter the MSW stream.
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(OS-305)
EPA530-F-92-017
July 1992
Office of Solid Waste
&EPA
0)
•o
Environmental
Fact Sheet
8CD .
600 -
800 -
2
£
J 200-
o
CO
MERCURY IN THE MUNICIPAL SOLID
WASTE (MSW) STREAM
Background
Mercury is used in many applications due to its excellent ability to conduct electri-
cal current, its ability to form alloys with most metals, and its low cost Mercury is also
a toxic heavy metal with a strong tendency to bioaccumulate in the food chain, and as a
result can create serious human health and environmental problems. Global releases
of mercury in the environment stem from both natural sources and releases related to
human activities (e.g., mining and manufacturing activities, urban refuse, combustion
ash). Human activities account for releases of approximately 12,000 tons of mercury
annually into the air, soil, and water. As part of the EPA's effort to Identify sources of
hazardous compounds in municipal solid waste and promote voluntary initiatives to
reduce the use of these compounds. EPA has examined the sources of mercury in MSW.
Mercury in MSW Expected to Decline Dramatically
Discards of mercury in municipal solid waste in the United States were estimated
to be 709 tons in 1989. EPA expects dramatic decreases in mercury discards in the next
several years due largely to a
long-term commitment by the
battery industry to remove or
greatly reduce mercury from
alkaline batteries through
technological innovations.
Currently, household batteries
are by far the major source of
mercury in MSW. followed, to
lesser degrees, by electric
lighting, paint residues, fever
thermometers, and thermo-
stats. The expected decrease
emphasizes the effectiveness of
source reduction* initiatives in
reducing the potential toxicity
of municipal solid waste.
Mercury levels in MSW should also decrease as the concentration of mercury in paint
residues decreases sharply, resulting from EPA bans and voluntary cancellations by
the paint industry of registrations of mercury-based bioddes in 1990 and 1991.
Tons of Mercury Discarded into Municipal SoUd
Waste Stream, 1970 to 2000
1970
1970
1990
2000
Source reduction is the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials to reduce their amount or lojddty before they
enter the MSW stream.
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