Mercury Pollutant Minimization Program (PMP) for Businesses

Introduction

Mercury is a naturally occur-ring element that is found in air, water, and soil. It exists in many forms including elemental (Hg) or metallic mercury, organic, and inorganic compounds.

Traditional products containing mercury include:

  • Thermometers
  • Switches
  • Light bulbs

The use of mercury has been reduced or eliminated in many new products because of the findings that mercury is highly toxic in both liquid and gaseous forms.

Why is the City Concerned About Mercury?

The City of Oshkosh's Wastewater Treatment Plant is required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to meet discharge limits for a number of parameters, including mercury. The current discharge limit is 3.6 ng/L. That's 3.6 parts per trillion!

Knowing Your Role

In addition to the numerical discharge limit, the City is required to implement and maintain a mercury Pollutant Minimization Program (PMP) to inventory and educate commercial/industrial sectors known to likely use various forms of mercury. These sectors include:

  • dental offices which place or remove amalgam
  • schools
  • hospitals/veterinary clinics
  • industries within the Pretreatment program

These sectors are being expanded to include:

  • HVAC contractors
  • salvage yards
  • commercial/industrial entities not monitored by the Pretreatment Program

What Can You Do?

It is the intention of the Mercury Pollutant Minimization Program to encourage implementation of the following Best Management Practices (BMPs):

  • Establish a mercury policy statement that includes the reduction or virtual elimination of mercury.
  • Develop a plan to phase-out mercury-containing devices.
  • Implement a chemical management program that includes pre-purchase review and approval.
  • Establish protocols for safe handling, mercury spill cleanup procedures, disposal procedures, and education and training of employees about these protocols.
  • Inventory and label mercury-containing devices to recycle at the end of their life.
  • Implement a program to recycle fluorescent lamps.
  • Request certificates of analysis for bulk chemicals with potential mercury contamination.
  • Reduce the use of mercury-containing chemicals.
  • Plan for non-mercury product substitution.

Questions?

For more information, please contact:

Jason Ellis
Pretreatment Coordinator
Phone: 920-232-5374
Fax: 920-232-5366
jellis@oshkoshwi.gov