The Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) and Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) have reached an agreement to promote TRC’s national mercury thermostat collection program.

HARDI has worked with TRC to grow the number of thermostat recovery locations in HVACR wholesale distributors for years. This agreement formalizes the partnership and puts into place mechanisms for increasing HARDI member participation.

TRC will provide HARDI members regular mercury thermostat-related policy and regulatory updates as well as expanded collateral and marketing materials to help promote HARDI members’ commitment to responsible mercury management. HARDI sources report it is committed to getting every thermostat-selling distributor member into a mercury thermostat recovery program. TRC is a not-for-profit corporation supported by 28 manufacturers who historically branded and sold mercury thermostats in the U.S.

The TRC program allows HVAC contractors to properly dispose of waste mercury thermostats at no cost. TRC relies on HVAC wholesale distributors to act as the primary collection points for mercury thermostats taken out of service. Beyond a one-time participation fee of $25.00, there are no recurring costs for distributors to participate.

“TRC is thrilled to formalize it’s partnership with HARDI,” says TRC Executive Director Mark Tibbetts. “The active support of HVACR wholesale distributors is critical to the success of TRC,”  Tibbetts says.