Covanta Encourages Recycling of Mercury-Containing Devices

Covanta Energy and the city and county of Honolulu are asking Oahu residents to recycle mercury-containing thermometers and medical devices. To encourage them, the firm and Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV) are offering residents a $5 gift card for each mercury-containing device they recycle.

Covanta and ENV will collect mercury-containing devices at household hazardous waste collection events that are scheduled throughout 2010. The first event will take place on Feb. 6.

“It is essential that mercury does not enter the environment and that’s why the collection and recycling of products containing mercury is so extremely important,” said Timothy Steinberger, director of ENV, in a press release. “The public can contribute to the reduction of mercury by purchasing mercury-free products and correctly disposing of older products still containing mercury. Our objective is to reduce demand for products whose production leads to the release of mercury into the environment.”