
				Pat Quinn, Governor

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Environmental Progress - Winter 2000

Drive Nets Half Ton of Mercury Containing Products

Follow-up to accidental release in thousands of Chicago area homes

Residential mercury collections held between Nov. 14 and Dec. 16 at 30 suburban Chicago fire stations and four in the city netted 1,365 pounds of mercury containing products.

The program was conducted to address citizen concerns after the discovery of accidental releases of mercury in thousands of suburban Chicago homes by NICOR and Peoples Gas Co. The releases occurred during replacement of old style gas meters that had regulators containing small amounts of mercury.

The companies were directed by the Office of the Attorney General to provide funds to pay for the collections.

Suburban and Chicago fire department chiefs rallied behind the effort to provide collection sites. The IEPA's Household Hazardous Waste contractor, Superior Special Services, delivered supplies and picked up all mercury containing products collected.

Residents were encouraged to drop off elemental mercury and mercury containing products at the sites, where the mercury was retorted for recycling. Cost of the program, including supplies, mobilization and waste treatment, totaled $41,494.