Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine

For related information visit: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/conferences

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

Introduction of Neon ProductsIntroduction of Neon Products

Mercury consumption of Neon tubesMercury consumption of Neon tubes

Reduction of Mercury consumptionReduction of Mercury consumption

Outlook: Elimination of Mercury in Neon Outlook: Elimination of Mercury in Neon

TubesTubes

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

Neon Products: A worldwide leader in Neon Technology

High Tec Production Facilities in High Tec Production Facilities in Germany and BrazilGermany and Brazil

Intensive R&D SpendingIntensive R&D Spending Global Sales & ServiceGlobal Sales & Service

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

AACHEN, Germany

WARBURG, Germany

HvM do BRASIL

Introduction of Neon Products

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

ElectrodesElectrodes

Phosphor and Phosphor and Pre-coated TubesPre-coated Tubes

PumpingPumping and and Bombarding Bombarding EquipmentEquipment

Electronic Power Electronic Power SuppliesSupplies

The Products

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

Mercury consumption of Neon tubes: 4 - 5 tons / year worldwide

Europa 25%

USA 40%

Eurasia 35%

end of lifetime

70%

glass break 10%

in glass shop 20%

by regionby region by value addedby value added

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

Mercury consumption of Neon tubes in the US: Around 2 Tons / Year

POP 33%

General Neon 67%

by type of Neonby type of Neon

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

Three ways to reduce mercury in Neon tubes

Dosing ApparatusDosing Apparatus Mercury RocksMercury Rocks HG+ ElectrodesHG+ Electrodes

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

Mercury Rocks

5 mg Hg per Rock5 mg Hg per Rock

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

HG+ Electrode

19 mg Hg +/- 1 mg per capsule

Mercury

Capsule

RF-Generator

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

HG+: Breakthrough Technology

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

HG+: Summary of Benefits

It worksIt works Reduces mercury consumption of Reduces mercury consumption of

Neon tubes by 80 – 90% = around Neon tubes by 80 – 90% = around 1.5 tons in the US1.5 tons in the US

Eliminates mercury spills during Eliminates mercury spills during production and transportproduction and transport

Speeds up productivity Speeds up productivity

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

Successful Market Introduction

Worldwide Unit Sales HG+ Electrodes

0

100.000

200.000

300.000

400.000

500.000

600.000

700.000

800.000

900.000

01/02 02/03 03/04

Fiscal Year

Un

its

sold

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

The Future: Xenon Discharge Lamps

Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste Conference

May 2005

PresentationsMay 23 – 25, 2005Portland, Maine

Robert Lago No Presentation available

Button Cell Battery Button Cell Battery Collection: Why it Makes Collection: Why it Makes

SenseSense

John JamesJohn James

Maine DEPMaine DEP

May 24, 2005May 24, 2005

John.james@maine.govJohn.james@maine.gov

(207) 287-7866(207) 287-7866

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

YearYear TonsTons

19841984 1,1291,129

19861986 827827

19881988 494494

19901990 117117

19921992 1414

19941994 77

20022002 2.52.5

Which batteries have mercury?Which batteries have mercury?

Use of mercury in most consumer Use of mercury in most consumer batteries is prohibited by state and federal batteries is prohibited by state and federal lawlaw• Maine law at 38 MRSA §2165 [1993] Maine law at 38 MRSA §2165 [1993]

• 12 other states, including CA, CT, MN, NH, NJ, 12 other states, including CA, CT, MN, NH, NJ, NY, RI and VTNY, RI and VT

• U. S. Mercury-Containing Battery Mgt Act, 42 U. S. Mercury-Containing Battery Mgt Act, 42 USC § 143301 USC § 143301 etet seqseq. [1996]. [1996]

Two exceptions:Two exceptions:• Mercuric oxide batteriesMercuric oxide batteries• Button batteries with < 25 mgs of HgButton batteries with < 25 mgs of Hg

Mercuric oxide batteriesMercuric oxide batteries

The Hg serves as an electrode and The Hg serves as an electrode and accounts for 40% of the battery weightaccounts for 40% of the battery weight

Can be sold only if the manufacturer has Can be sold only if the manufacturer has a collection programa collection program

Usage limited to applications demanding Usage limited to applications demanding stable current and long service life, e.g., stable current and long service life, e.g., medical devicesmedical devices

Extent of usage unknownExtent of usage unknown Sale of mercuric oxide button batteries Sale of mercuric oxide button batteries

(formerly used in hearing aids) is (formerly used in hearing aids) is banned banned

Button BatteriesButton Batteries

Three types of button battery use HgThree types of button battery use Hg

• Zinc air (hearing aids)Zinc air (hearing aids)• Silver oxide (watches, cameras)Silver oxide (watches, cameras)• Alkaline manganese (toys, novelties)Alkaline manganese (toys, novelties)

In each, the Hg coats the zinc anode In each, the Hg coats the zinc anode to inhibit formation of hydrogen gas to inhibit formation of hydrogen gas that could cause bulgingthat could cause bulging

Consumption of Mercury in Button Consumption of Mercury in Button BatteriesBatteries

Button battery sales contribute 5 tons of Hg to Button battery sales contribute 5 tons of Hg to U.S. commerce each yearU.S. commerce each year

• Half = replacement batteries made by U.S Half = replacement batteries made by U.S companiescompanies

• Half = foreign-made batteries imported in a Half = foreign-made batteries imported in a larger productlarger product

Zinc air batteries for hearing aids account for Zinc air batteries for hearing aids account for 85% of Hg in replacement batteries85% of Hg in replacement batteries

Most foreign-made batteries presumably are Most foreign-made batteries presumably are alkaline (toys) or silver oxide (cameras, watches alkaline (toys) or silver oxide (cameras, watches and calculators) and calculators)

Consumption of mercury in button Consumption of mercury in button batteries compared to other productsbatteries compared to other products

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

switches

measuring devices

amalgam

lamps

thermostats

button batteries

other

Hg in tons

Here is why:Here is why:• Batteries may be the largest source of Hg Batteries may be the largest source of Hg

emissions from municipal waste incineratorsemissions from municipal waste incinerators• Hg use in button batteries is increasingHg use in button batteries is increasing• Hg is bio-accumulative. All releases are Hg is bio-accumulative. All releases are

problematic. problematic. • Disposal of Hg-added batteries is contrary to Disposal of Hg-added batteries is contrary to

the regional goal of virtually eliminating Hg the regional goal of virtually eliminating Hg emissions from human activityemissions from human activity

• Maine’s Bottom LineMaine’s Bottom Line: as long as they contain : as long as they contain Hg, it is not an environmentally sound Hg, it is not an environmentally sound practice to put button batteries in the trashpractice to put button batteries in the trash

Why bother with the “small” amount Why bother with the “small” amount of mercury in button batteries?of mercury in button batteries?

Options for reducing Hg Options for reducing Hg emissions from button batteriesemissions from button batteries

1.1. Eliminate the Hg at the source by Eliminate the Hg at the source by eliminating the need for mercury in eliminating the need for mercury in button batteriesbutton batteries

2.2. Collect spent Hg-added batteries Collect spent Hg-added batteries for recyclingfor recycling

Hg-free versions of all 3 button batteries Hg-free versions of all 3 button batteries types that currently use mercury have been types that currently use mercury have been introduced to the marketplaceintroduced to the marketplace

Possible barriers to deployment of Hg-free Possible barriers to deployment of Hg-free battery technologybattery technology

• Production capacityProduction capacity

• Battery performance / user acceptance Battery performance / user acceptance

• Current law “condones” sale of button batteries Current law “condones” sale of button batteries with < 25 mgs Hg and could be a disincentivewith < 25 mgs Hg and could be a disincentive

Can the use of mercury in button Can the use of mercury in button batteries be eliminated? batteries be eliminated?

Should button batteries be Should button batteries be collected for recycling? collected for recycling?

Preferred strategy is to eliminate the Preferred strategy is to eliminate the use of Hg in button batteriesuse of Hg in button batteries

If this cannot be done soon, spent If this cannot be done soon, spent batteries should be collected for batteries should be collected for recyclingrecycling

Recycling is safe and affordable, costing Recycling is safe and affordable, costing less than 1¢ per batteryless than 1¢ per battery

Main challenge is achieving a high Main challenge is achieving a high capture ratecapture rate

What about the fire and ingestion What about the fire and ingestion concerns ?concerns ?

FireFire: NEMA contends battery collection poses : NEMA contends battery collection poses an unacceptable fire hazard. an unacceptable fire hazard.

Our review indicates this concern is overstated Our review indicates this concern is overstated and conjectural.and conjectural.

IngestionIngestion. NEMA contends more kids will . NEMA contends more kids will swallow batteries if they are collected for swallow batteries if they are collected for recycling.recycling.

We observe that injury from button battery We observe that injury from button battery ingestion is ingestion is exceedinglyexceedingly rare and has not rare and has not prevented them from being placed in prevented them from being placed in commerce, including in toys commerce, including in toys 

Proposed legislative strategy for Proposed legislative strategy for button batteries button batteries

1.1. Ban the sale of non-essential products Ban the sale of non-essential products (novelties) that have Hg-added button (novelties) that have Hg-added button batteries effective January 1, 2007batteries effective January 1, 2007

2.2. Ban the sale of all Hg-added button Ban the sale of all Hg-added button batteries effective January 1, 2010batteries effective January 1, 2010

1.1. Interim report in 2008 to assess status of Interim report in 2008 to assess status of mercury-free battery technologies.mercury-free battery technologies.

Summary of Maine DEP Position on Summary of Maine DEP Position on Mercury-Added Button BatteriesMercury-Added Button Batteries

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

References / ResourcesReferences / Resources Button Cell Battery Collection: Why It Does Not Make Button Cell Battery Collection: Why It Does Not Make

SenseSense, National Electrical Manufacturers Association , National Electrical Manufacturers Association (January 2003) (January 2003)

Analysis of Battery Industry Sponsored Button Cell Analysis of Battery Industry Sponsored Button Cell Collection ProgramsCollection Programs, Richard Tozer (December 2003), Richard Tozer (December 2003)

An Investigation of Alternatives to Miniature Batteries An Investigation of Alternatives to Miniature Batteries Containing Mercury, Containing Mercury, Lowell Center for Sustainable Lowell Center for Sustainable Production (December 2004)Production (December 2004)

Mercury Use in Button Batteries: A Report the Joint Mercury Use in Button Batteries: A Report the Joint

Standing Committee on Natural Resources, 122th Maine Standing Committee on Natural Resources, 122th Maine Legislature, Legislature, MaineMaine Department of Environmental Department of Environmental Protection (March 2005)Protection (March 2005)