Mercury-Free Schools Program
Mercury is a naturally occurring element many people remember playing with when they were younger. As we learn more about the hazardous properties of mercury, education becomes a major component of a mercury reduction program.
There is an abundance of mercury sitting in our schools, a place where our children should be safe. Many schools have reported one or more mercury spills involving elemental mercury, thermometers, sphygmomanometers and barometers.
The goals of our program are:
- Help educate students, teachers and administrators about the health hazards
and environmental fate of mercury;
- Promote the proper disposal and elimination of mercury, products containing mercury,
and other hazardous substances at schools;
- Promote use of alternative products that do not contain mercury;
- Prevent mercury spills and promote proper spill cleanup.
|
|
|
|
Cooper School Science Fair
|
Superior Middle School
|
What is mercury?
|
“What is mercury? What are its properties? Where is it found? What are its health hazards? What can we do about it?” These are some of the topics covered when we visit local schools to give mercury presentations. A WDNR grant allowed us to offer this service to schools in ten northern Wisconsin counties.
We offer presentations and programs for any group (grade schools, middle and high schools, nursing schools, health classes etc.) Contact us to schedule a classroom visit at 715-394-0392 ext 131.
|
Jane Edwards giving a presentation
|
|
|
Too far away for us to come to you? Visit our
resources page to download a suitable presentation.
|
Over 80 schools in the 10 Northern Wisconsin counties have participated in the program,
with thousands of hazardous waste items collected and recycled.
Although participation did not require it, schools were encouraged to sign a Pledge to proclaim their commitment to becoming mercury-free. The pledge states that the school will inventory their buildings for mercury and mercury-containing items and turn them in for recycling at their end-of-life. They will plan a phase-out of mercury-containing devices and purchase mercury-free alternatives where possible. They will also recycle used fluorescent lamps and all other hazardous wastes.
Participating schools receive several free services
|
|
Staff from the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center provided technical assistance to school staff during a mercury audit, which identified mercury-containing devices in classrooms, offices, storage areas, garages, and other areas.
|
|
|
Northwest Clean Sweep, Spooner, collected and recycled (for free while funds are available) the mercury items, including bulk mercury, laboratory and fever thermometers, barometers, blood pressure gauges, thermostats and switches. Numerous other hazardous materials, from acetone to wood preservatives, can also be picked up at low disposal rates.
|
|
|
Schools will also receive educational materials that teach students how to recognize mercury in their homes, and how to substitute safe alternatives for mercury-containing devices. Teachers will receive materials to help incorporate environmental safety lessons into their curriculum. Schools are also encouraged to develop their own project to help teach community members about the impacts of mercury on human health and the environment. Digital thermometers are available from the City of Superior for schools to conduct exchanges.
|
|
|
Copies of the “Mercury – In Your Community and the Environment” curriculum were available to all interested teachers and schools.
|
|
A Bounty Program was established in 2000 as a way to get mercury out of our schools. The program ran through the spring of 2001. Over 30 schools participated, turning in almost 200 pounds of mercury and mercury containing devices. Schools in the Lake Superior Basin received money for each thermometer, barometer, sphygmomanometer, sling psychrometer, Boyle’s Law apparatus and other devices containing mercury that they turned in. It was a very successful way to help schools replace these items. This project was funded by an EPA grant.
|
|
|
|
