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Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine

Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine For related information visit: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/conferences. Introduction of Neon Products

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Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine

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  1. Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine For related information visit: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/conferences

  2. Introduction of Neon Products Mercury consumption of Neon tubes Reduction of Mercury consumption Outlook: Elimination of Mercury in Neon Tubes

  3. High Tec Production Facilities in Germany and Brazil Intensive R&D Spending Global Sales & Service Neon Products: A worldwide leader in Neon Technology

  4. Introduction of Neon Products HvM do BRASIL WARBURG, Germany AACHEN, Germany

  5. The Products • Electrodes • Phosphor and Pre-coated Tubes • Electronic Power Supplies • Pumping and Bombarding Equipment

  6. Mercury consumption of Neon tubes: 4 - 5 tons / year worldwide by region by value added

  7. Mercury consumption of Neon tubes in the US: Around 2 Tons / Year by type of Neon

  8. Dosing Apparatus Mercury Rocks HG+ Electrodes Three ways to reduce mercury in Neon tubes

  9. Mercury Rocks • 5 mg Hg per Rock

  10. HG+ Electrode • 19 mg Hg +/- 1 mg per capsule Mercury Capsule RF-Generator

  11. HG+: Breakthrough Technology

  12. It works Reduces mercury consumption of Neon tubes by 80 – 90% = around 1.5 tons in the US Eliminates mercury spills during production and transport Speeds up productivity HG+: Summary of Benefits

  13. Successful Market Introduction

  14. The Future: Xenon Discharge Lamps

  15. Thank You!

  16. Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine

  17. Robert Lago No Presentation available

  18. Button Cell Battery Collection: Why it Makes Sense John James Maine DEP May 24, 2005 John.james@maine.gov (207) 287-7866

  19. Declining Use of Mercury in U.S. Battery Production

  20. Which batteries have mercury? • Use of mercury in most consumer batteries is prohibited by state and federal law • Maine law at 38 MRSA §2165 [1993] • 12 other states, including CA, CT, MN, NH, NJ, NY, RI and VT • U. S. Mercury-Containing Battery Mgt Act, 42 USC § 143301 etseq. [1996] • Two exceptions: • Mercuric oxide batteries • Button batteries with < 25 mgs of Hg

  21. Mercuric oxide batteries • The Hg serves as an electrode and accounts for 40% of the battery weight • Can be sold only if the manufacturer has a collection program • Usage limited to applications demanding stable current and long service life, e.g., medical devices • Extent of usage unknown • Sale of mercuric oxide button batteries (formerly used in hearing aids) is banned

  22. Button Batteries • Three types of button battery use Hg • Zinc air (hearing aids) • Silver oxide (watches, cameras) • Alkaline manganese (toys, novelties) • In each, the Hg coats the zinc anode to inhibit formation of hydrogen gas that could cause bulging

  23. Consumption of Mercury in Button Batteries • Button battery sales contribute 5 tons of Hg to U.S. commerce each year • Half = replacement batteries made by U.S companies • Half = foreign-made batteries imported in a larger product • Zinc air batteries for hearing aids account for 85% of Hg in replacement batteries • Most foreign-made batteries presumably are alkaline (toys) or silver oxide (cameras, watches and calculators)

  24. Consumption of mercury in button batteries compared to other products

  25. Why bother with the “small” amount of mercury in button batteries? Here is why: • Batteries may be the largest source of Hg emissions from municipal waste incinerators • Hg use in button batteries is increasing • Hg is bio-accumulative. All releases are problematic. • Disposal of Hg-added batteries is contrary to the regional goal of virtually eliminating Hg emissions from human activity • Maine’s Bottom Line: as long as they contain Hg, it is not an environmentally sound practice to put button batteries in the trash

  26. Options for reducing Hg emissions from button batteries • Eliminate the Hg at the source by eliminating the need for mercury in button batteries • Collect spent Hg-added batteries for recycling

  27. Can the use of mercury in button batteries be eliminated? • Hg-free versions of all 3 button batteries types that currently use mercury have been introduced to the marketplace • Possible barriers to deployment of Hg-free battery technology • Production capacity • Battery performance / user acceptance • Current law “condones” sale of button batteries with < 25 mgs Hg and could be a disincentive

  28. Should button batteries be collected for recycling? • Preferred strategy is to eliminate the use of Hg in button batteries • If this cannot be done soon, spent batteries should be collected for recycling • Recycling is safe and affordable, costing less than 1¢ per battery • Main challenge is achieving a high capture rate

  29. What about the fire and ingestion concerns ? • Fire: NEMA contends battery collection poses an unacceptable fire hazard. Our review indicates this concern is overstated and conjectural. • Ingestion. NEMA contends more kids will swallow batteries if they are collected for recycling. We observe that injury from button battery ingestion is exceedingly rare and has not prevented them from being placed in commerce, including in toys 

  30. Proposed legislative strategy for button batteries • Ban the sale of non-essential products (novelties) that have Hg-added button batteries effective January 1, 2007 • Ban the sale of all Hg-added button batteries effective January 1, 2010 • Interim report in 2008 to assess status of mercury-free battery technologies.

  31. Summary of Maine DEP Position on Mercury-Added Button Batteries It is not an environmentally sound practice to dispose of mercury-added button batteries in the trash.  The use of mercury in these batteries should be ended at the earliest opportunity.  If this cannot be done soon, then Maine law should be amended to prohibit the disposal of these batteries, and provision should be made to collect the batteries for recycling. Manufacturers should be responsible for the costs of collection and recycling.

  32. References / Resources • Button Cell Battery Collection: Why It Does Not Make Sense, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (January 2003) • Analysis of Battery Industry Sponsored Button Cell Collection Programs, Richard Tozer (December 2003) • An Investigation of Alternatives to Miniature Batteries Containing Mercury, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production (December 2004) • Mercury Use in Button Batteries: A Report the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources, 122th Maine Legislature, MaineDepartment of Environmental Protection (March 2005)

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