INTERNAL PROTOTYPE — NOT LEGAL ADVICE — DO NOT SEND

§ 17

Citation
§ 17 (b)
Parent Document
Worcester Rev. Ords. ch. 8
Jurisdiction
Worcester (municipal)

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(b) The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) estimated that for the
year 2000, 17 tons of elemental mercury from thermometers will be disposed of as municipal
solid waste – this does not include additional mercury that finds its way into the medical waste
stream. Accidental mercury spills, breakages, and releases have occurred at schools
throughout the Northeast. In addition to the threat of health risks to students and staff and
potential for adverse environment impact, these discharges are costly, Harvard University has
sited that it costs $110 to properly clean up a single thermometer breakage in a laboratory.
These incidences have proven costly to clean up and have exposed students, teachers and/or
administrators to mercury emissions.