Mercury Collection Project Aims to Reduce Pollution in Detroit River Canadian Area of Concern
In 2004, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup teamed up with the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority, the City of Windsor, the Town of LaSalle, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and Environment Canada on a project to reduce mercury pollution in the Detroit River Canadian Area of Concern. The project aimed to collect household items containing mercury such as thermometers, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs and batteries from residents of Windsor and surrounding areas. Local residents were encouraged to bring those items to the Household Hazardous Waste Depot during the month of April 2004, in return for special bonuses.
The project represents a step forward for the Canadian Detroit River Remedial Action Plan. In the process of developing the Detroit River RAP, agency and community partners identified mercury as a critical pollutant in the Detroit River. By educating area residents about the risks of mercury and encouraging them to dispose of items properly, it is hoped that this pollutant will be diverted from sewers, wastewater treatment plants, and landfills. Point sources such as these currently contribute to localized mercury contamination leading to fish consumption advisories and human health risks.
The project also helped to achieve pollution prevention commitments set out in the Binational Toxics Strategy and the Canada-Ontario Agreement. This Mercury Collection Project will be compared with projects conducted in other cities in order to determine the best approach for similar projects in the future.
Mercury has been an issue in the Great Lakes basin for over 30 years. In the 1970s, a serious contamination incident shut down fisheries in the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, as well as Lake St. Clair. The combined efforts of numerous partners working on Great Lakes programs has helped to make significant progress in reducing mercury pollution basin-wide, restoring healthy fisheries and remediating areas affected by historical mercury contamination. Projects like this one are essential to continued progress and success in protecting and restoring Areas of Concern such as the Detroit River.
Even if you missed this event, you can still bring your household mercury items year-round to the Household Chemical Waste Depot, located near Central Avenue and the EC Row Expressway.
Click here to download the PDF version of the Household Mercury Collection brochure.
| Mercury Is Toxic. Mercury is a risk to the health of your family and the environment. It is contained in many common items such as thermometers, thermostats and fluorescent lights. |
Do the Right Thing. Dispose of your mercury items safely and for free at the HCW Depot. |