VIA EMAIL and US Mail - Thermostat Recycling Corporation€¦ · • HVAC Insider New England, a regional publication which has a monthly circulation of 9,000 contractors, technicians,

VIA EMAIL and US Mail

March 29, 2016 Mr. George Macdonald Maine Department of Environmental Protection Division of Sustainability 17 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0017 Ms. Carole Cifrino Maine Department of Environmental Protection Division of Sustainability 17 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0017 Subject: Thermostat Recycling Corporation’s 2015 Annual Report Dear Mr. Macdonald and Ms. Cifrino: Since 1998, TRC's national program has collected more than 2.1 million thermostats, diverting more than 10 tons of mercury from the waste stream. TRC continues to do more by increasing its budget, visiting more states (up 38% compared to 2014), and modernizing its work force. You will find attached TRC’s annual collection report for calendar year 2015. TRC would like to highlight some aspects of the 2015 program in Maine:

• The program collected 4,571 thermostats in 2015. This was a 5% increase compared to the number of thermostats collected in 2014.

• In 2015 the program collected 32.03 pounds of mercury in the state of Maine. Since 2001, the annual pounds of mercury collected in Maine has increased by an average of 31% per year. During the same time period, the pounds of mercury collected in the nation increased by 16% per year.

• TRC’s website traffic continued to increase in 2015. There was a 54% increase of visitors from Maine while TRC increased its total annual visitors by 71% compared to 2014.

• The counties with the most bins returned in 2015 were Cumberland (26 bins), Penobscot (19 bins), and Kennebec (14 bins).

If the department would like to discuss any of these items in greater detail, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at 571-302-0877. Sincerely yours,

Ryan L Kiscaden Executive Director

MAINE ANNUAL REPORT

FY 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TRC Annual Report on Mercury-added Thermostat Collection and Recycling in Maine Calendar Year 2015

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Thermostat Collection Data .....................................................................................3

Education and Outreach ...........................................................................................4

Other Education and Outreach ............................................................................ 26

Program Expenses ................................................................................................... 39

Program Effectiveness ............................................................................................ 43

Program Modifications……………………………………………………………………….63

Appendices ................................................................................................................. 67

THERMOSTAT COLLECTION DATA


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In Maine, TRC recovered 32.03 pounds of mercury from the equivalent of 4,663 mercury

thermostats. This was from 4,571 whole mercury thermostats plus 5,166 mercury switches

removed from thermostats (thermostats from Maine averaged 1.11 switches per thermostat in

2015).

TRC recovered 52% of mercury thermostats from retail locations, 32% from HVAC wholesalers,

11% from contractor locations and 5% from Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facilities.

EXHIBIT 1: 2015 MAINE COLLECTIONS BY BRAND

Brand Holder Thermostats Count Switches

Pounds Mercury

Bard 2 2 0.01Burnham Holdings 22 22 0.14Carrier 51 54 0.33Chromolox 3 3 0.02Empire Comfort Systems 13 13 0.08General Electric Corporation 63 126 0.78Goodman Global 5 8 0.05Grainger 1 1 0.01Honeywell 4,114 4,445 27.56Invensys 19 20 0.12ITT Corporation 7 7 0.04Lear Siegler 1 1 0.01Lennox 12 14 0.09Lux Products 10 10 0.06Marley-Wylain Company 1 1 0.01Nordyne Corporation 4 5 0.03Rheem 1 2 0.01Sears Holdings 15 16 0.10Trane 6 13 0.08White Rogers 197 244 1.51York/Johnson Controls 17 47 0.29

CLIMATE CONTROL 1 4 0.02EFM 1 1 0.01FUEL CHIEF 1 1 0.01Singer 3 3 0.02SINGER1 1 1 0.01

NOM's 0.00Loose Bulbs - 102 0.63

TOTAL 4,571 5,166 32.03

-------------------- Non-Member Brands ------------------------------

------------- NOM (Manufacturer not Identifiable) ----------------------

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH


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In compliance with MEDEP’s provided form, “TRC Annual Report on Mercury-Added Thermostat

Collection and Recycling in Maine – Calendar Year 2015 Activities”, a description of each outreach

activity strategy employed to target Maine residents, and whether the effort specifically conveyed

information on the $5 incentive.

1. Print Media Ads: Include ad copy, publications, and dates published.

TRC’s two primary advertising targets remain HVAC contractors/technicians and HVAC wholesale

distributors. For the contractors/technicians segment, TRC focuses on residential and light

commercial contractors because of their relatively high level of hands-on contact with waste

mercury thermostats. The second segment of focus is HVAC wholesale distributor locations as

they remain the most convenient location for the majority of Maine-based technicians/contractors

to purchase replacement thermostats and recycle waste mercury thermostats.

Homeowners remain a secondary market as they represent a small segment of the market. Since

replacing a mercury thermostat is a rare event (if ever) for a consumer, TRC derives the greatest

impact/value from its marketing activities by concentrating on the channel segment that conducts

the vast majority of repeat thermostat replacements.

TRC’s 2015 advertising campaign continued to focus mostly on “easy and free” and “It’s the law”

messaging (where applicable, as only a limited number of states ban the disposal of mercury

thermostats in solid waste and/or require HVAC contractors to recycle all mercury thermostats

removed from service). TRC also focused on the $5 incentive messaging for local advertisements.

The purpose of TRC’s advertisements were two-fold: 1) continue to build brand/program

awareness and 2) increase program participation by raising awareness of specific legal obligations

to recycle and the ease of recycling.

TRC continued print-based advertisements in the following national/regional HVAC trade

publications:



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• Uncle Henry’s, weekly consumer publication with distribution in more than 1,800 stores

in Maine. TRC advertised during the month of November for their recycling themed month.

This included a half page ad each week where the main messaging was the $5 incentive.

(Exhibit 2)

• HVAC Insider New England, a regional publication which has a monthly circulation of

9,000 contractors, technicians, and wholesale distributors in New England, including

Maine. TRC ran a 2-color 1/2 page advertisement in the May, June, November and

December issues (Exhibit 3).

• Johnstone Supply Flyer, a printed version of their online catalogue that is mailed to more

than 300,000 HVAC contractors nationwide. The flyer featured a full page TRC

advertisement in their August issue to promote the TRC TV giveaway promotion (Exhibit

4). Johnstone Supply has two locations in Maine. Johnstone Supply provided this insertion

at no-cost to TRC.

• Distribution Center Magazine, the exclusive publication of HARDI, with more than 11,000

bi-monthly subscribers. TRC ran a full-color 1/4 page advertisement in May and

December promoting the Big Man on Planet competition. (Exhibit 5)

• HVACR Business Magazine, a national publication with approximately 34,000 qualified

subscribers, of which approximately 1,544 are in New England. TRC ran a full color 1/4

page advertisement in January, March and July. (Exhibit 6)



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EXHIBIT 2: UNCLE HENRY’S ADVERTISING

Print Ad:

EXHIBIT 3: HVAC INSIDER NEW ENGLAND AD



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EXHIBIT 4: JOHNSTONE SUPPLY FLYER AD

EXHIBIT 5: DISTRIBUTION CENTER MAGAZINE ADS

May: December:



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EXHIBIT 6: HVACR BUSINESS MAGAZINE AD

2. Radio and TV PSAs/ads: Include a copy of each PSA and ad, a description of its

distribution, and number of times ad was run.

TRC ran a 15 second live radio read each week on Uncle Henry’s Talkin’ Deals radio station during

the month of November (Exhibit 7). The main messaging of the ads was the $5 incentive.

EXHIBIT 7: UNCLE HENRY’S 30 SECOND RADIO SCRIPT

America Recycles Day is November 15th! Help protect the environment by recycling mercury

thermostats. Residents of Maine and Vermont are eligible to receive a $5 incentive for each

mercury thermostat recycled at participating locations.

Visit thermostat-dash-recycle-dot-org to find your nearest participating collection site.

TRC has not run public service announcements in Maine since 2009 and last attempted placing

PSA’s in 2010 in the California market. TRC determined this is an ineffective and inefficient tactic

for the following reasons:



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a) The best data available to the program indicates that approximately 90% of residential

controls (thermostats) are sold to the trade channel via wholesale distribution. The retail

channel remains a small segment of the market and TRC focuses its advertising budget on

channel segments that will impact program outcomes.

b) In 2010 TRC requested radio stations in California to air a 30 second PSA and also

monitored air-time and market reached. Few of the PSA’s ran during optimal times and a

limited number of stations even ran the PSA.

3. Online ads: Describe the online advertising strategy to target Maine residents and

include screen shots of ads, websites where they appeared, date range during which they

appeared, and click-through rate.

TRC continued the use of rotating banner advertisements in 2015, with changes in scheduling and

scope and the addition of new outlets.

TRC’s new advertising in 2015 included:

• Uncle Henry’s, weekly consumer publication with distribution in more than 1,800 stores in

Maine. TRC advertised during the month of November for their recycling themed month.

This included an online display ad on their website for the full month (Exhibit 8).

• ACHR News’ AHR Wrap Up Enewsletter, sent to 12,000 opt-in subscribers. This is an annual

email sent in January at the conclusion of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating

(AHR) Exposition, the largest HVAC industry trade show. TRC ran a Medium Rectangle ad

within the email that received a 0.72% CTR. (Exhibit 9)

• Distribution Center’s Enewsletter, sent to 4,000 weekly opt-in subscribers. TRC ran a

Medium Rectangle ad in February, March and June receiving an average CTR of 2.5%.

(Exhibit 9)

• NATE Enewsletter, sent bi-monthly to 31,900 opt-in subscribers. TRC ran a text ad that

received a 0.14% CTR.



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EXHIBIT 8: UNCLE HENRYS ONLINE AD

EXHIBIT 9: ACHR NEWS AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER ENEWSLETTER AD

TRC also continued digital advertisements on the following HVAC industry websites below:

• OESP Dedicated Eblast, a digital piece emailed to oil and energy service professionals

predominantly from New York, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New



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Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. The email was

exclusively about TRC’s program and offered a limited-time offer to sign-up for a free TRC

bin. The email was delivered to 1,674 subscribers in April, receiving a 3.6% CTR; and to

1,623 subscribers in September, receiving a 1.4% CTR. (Appendix 1).

• OESP Advantage News Brief, a weekly email with the same subscribers listed as above

(OESP Dedicated Eblast). TRC ran a sponsored content ad for 13 consecutive weeks

October – December which resulted in an average CTR of 0.2%. (Exhibit 10)

• HVACR Business “Ahead of the Curve” Enewsletter, a monthly newsletter that reaches

approximately 9,000 opt-in readers each month. TRC ran a banner ad in July, August,

November and December (Exhibit 11). The average CTR was 3.0%.

• HVACRBusiness.com, an HVAC publication website with 14,000 monthly visitors. TRC ran a

banner ad in February and July that resulted in 92,848 impressions and an average CTR of

0.9%. (Exhibit 12)

• Contracting Business Magazine’s dedicated Email Blast, which was sent twice with

different messaging to opt-in subscribers in states with disposal bans, including Maine.

The January mailing was sent to 5,980 subscribers and received a 25% open rate and a

0.5% CTR (Appendix 2), while the June mailing was sent to 8,970 subscribers and received

a 13% open rate and a 0.5% CTR (Appendix 3).

• ACHRNews.com, a website that assists the decision-makers from all branches of the HVAC

industry including contractors, manufacturers, distributors, parts and supply wholesalers,

and service companies. More than 241,852 HVACR professionals visit the website every

month, totaling more than 308,911 monthly website visits. TRC ran a Topic Sponsorship ad

in January, February and September that resulted in an average 0.14% CTR. (Exhibit 13)

• ACHR Newsletter, a weekly email blast with more than 10,000 subscribers. TRC ran a

banner ad for four issues in April and four issues in October with an average CTR of 4.7%.

(Exhibit 13)

• HVAC-Talk.com, an online forum that averages more than 300,000 monthly visitors. TRC

ran a banner ad in February, March and July which resulted in 291,706 total impressions

and an average CTR of .03%. (Exhibit 12)



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EXHIBIT 10: OESP ADVANTAGE NEWS BRIEF SPONSORED CONTENT AD

EXHIBIT 11: HVACR BUSINESS “AHEAD OF THE CURVE” ENEWSLETTER AD

EXHIBIT 12: HVACRBUSINESS.COM AND HVACT-TALK.COM AD



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EXHIBIT 13: ACHRNEWS.COM TOPIC SPONSORSHIP ADS

Exhibit 14 presents benchmark data from Google’s Display Benchmarks tool on average digital

advertising CTR’s in the U.S. by year. It shows that the highest national average CTR in 2015 was

0.09%, so TRC’s CTR performance exceeded the national average.

EXHIBIT 14: GOOGLE DISPLAY’S BENCHMARK TOOL



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Additionally, the current average open rate for emails is 14%, and the average CTR in emails is

1.6%1, which TRC generally also exceeds.

Google AdWords

Since 2011 TRC has deployed a Google AdWords campaign that geo-targets

contractors/technicians and consumers (homeowners) in states with mercury thermostat

disposal bans, including Maine (Exhibit 15). Advertisements appear on Google search results

pages after an individual searches terms related to TRC’s mission (E.g. thermostat replacement,

contracting recycling regulations, mercury thermostat recycling, programmable thermostats, etc.).

TRC continued this campaign in 2015, running it the duration of the calendar year. This is TRC’s

preferred option to reach consumers because of the campaign’s extensive and targeted reach.

The Maine campaign focused on the $5 incentive and yielded 272,877 impressions with an

average CTR of 0.4%.

EXHIBIT 15: GOOGLE ADWORDS LANDING PAGE

1 "M+R Benchmarks 2015." M+R and NTEN’s 2015 Nonprofit Benchmarks Report. 1 May 2015: 57. Print.



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4. Direct outreach to current collection sites: include copies of fliers, postcards, letters, and

other print outreach; dates of distribution; number sent out; responses from participants,

if any; and dates and locations of site visits.

Direct Mail

• To encourage collection point participation and to stimulate the timely return of TRC

collection containers, TRC mailed reminder postcards (Exhibit 16) to collection points that

had not returned a TRC container within the last 12 months (in accordance with Universal

Waste Regulations). TRC mailed 122 reminders in April, 100 in August, and 99 in

November.

• On 7/10 TRC sent mailed correspondence (Appendix 4) to all contractor, retail and

household hazardous waste collection locations in TRC’s program to offer a full-color,

double-sided 18x24 poster (Exhibit 17). Additionally, TRC sent a similar letter (Appendix

5) to wholesale distributor collection locations to offer the same poster, as well as the

branded merchandise display to showcase the TRC recycling bin (Exhibit 18). TRC

received requests for nine posters and one merchandise display.

• On 7/17 TRC mailed a letter to Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors

International (HARDI) member CEOs with headquarters in mandatory program states,

including one in Maine. The letter encouraged them to conduct an original equipment

manufacturer (OEM) Mercury thermostat cleanout at their branches, and included a

sample memo for HARDI CEOs to distribute to their collection locations. (Appendix 6)



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EXHIBIT 16: REMINDER POSTCARD

Side 1: Side 2:

EXHIBIT 17: 18X24 POSTER

Side 1: Side 2:



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EXHIBIT 18: TRC MERCHANDISE DISPLAY

Location calls

TRC staff made 34 phone calls to collection locations in Maine that hadn’t returned a bin in more

than 12 months. Calls reminded locations of the need to stay in compliance with accumulation

time limits. TRC staff also offered to replace lost shipping labels, order FedEx Ground pickups for

the bins, or provide free promotional materials. See Appendix 7 for a list of locations contacted.

Site Visits

A total of 34 Maine collection locations were visited by TRC staff in several key markets. The

majority of locations visited were those that had not returned a bin within the past 12 months.

Visits were conducted to ensure location staff was knowledgeable about the program, prepare the

bin and schedule a shipment if applicable, and supply any other necessary materials. See Appendix

8 for a complete list of locations visited.

Merchandise Displays for TRC Bins

In 2014 TRC developed branded merchandise displays for its recycling containers. The purpose of

the displays is to enhance the visibility and accessibility of the program to contractors at HVAC

wholesale locations. TRC created a special version for Maine and Vermont that highlights the $5



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incentive. Throughout the year TRC distributed free branded cardboard displays to HVAC

wholesale distributor collection locations to showcase the TRC container (Exhibit 18).

In 2014 when TRC last ran data, the five largest HVAC wholesalers using the TRC merchandise

display (Johnstone Supply, R.E. Michel, CC Dickson, Gustave Larson, and US Air Conditioning

Distributors) collectively had seen a 25% increase in pounds of mercury recovered and a 45%

increase in frequency of TRC bin returns year-to-date. Therefore, TRC plans to continue providing

and encouraging the use of merchandise displays at HVAC wholesalers to help increase thermostat

collections.

5. Outreach to recruit new collection sites in Maine: describe format and frequency of

efforts to recruit new collection sites, including copies of materials distributed, number

and types of facilities targeted; and number and names of new collection sites signed up as

a result.

Winsupply Engagement

On 10/28 TRC sent a sales letters to a Maine Winsupply wholesale locations without a TRC bin.

The letter was sent to remind them of their lawful obligation to provide a mercury thermostat

recycling option to customers and offered free bins to help them meet this obligation. (Appendix

9)

Ferguson Enterprises Onboarding

Ferguson Enterprises is the number one wholesaler in the country, owning more than 200 HVAC

locations nationwide. Ferguson made a business decision to engage both HVAC and blended

Ferguson stores regardless of state mandatory programs. As a result of this initiative Ferguson

signed up 90 Ferguson Enterprise stores for the program, three of its Lyon Conklin Co. stores, and

two of its Air Cold Supply stores. In addition, Ferguson purchased a current HVAC distributor

whom uses the TRC program, Redlon and Johnson.



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Ferguson sent an email in July to 15,910 subscribers announcing its partnership with TRC and

highlighting the program (Exhibit 19).

Due to these efforts, collections from Ferguson owned distributors increased 37% percent in

2015.

EXHIBIT 19: FERGUSON NATIONAL EMAIL



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6. Other: describe any additional education and outreach activities specific to the Maine

program that were conducted in 2015; include intended audience and geographic

distribution.

Direct Mail to HVAC Contractors/Technicians

TRC purchased all HVAC contractor lists from Hoover’s, narrowing the results by SIC codes

relating to the HVAC industry.

• TRC mailed an 11x6 sized postcard to 300 HVAC contracting business contacts with less

than 10 employees in September and November (Exhibit 20). The messaging targeted on

an emotional appeal to fathers, since the industry is predominantly male, coming from

their children in an appeal to “Get with the program.” The postcard also mentioned the $5

incentive.

• In December TRC mailed a full color letter to 278 HVAC contracting business contacts with

less than 11 employees. (Appendix 10)

• In December TRC mailed holiday cards to 30 HVAC contractors with 10 or more

employees. The card was holiday themed and offered the gift of a free mercury thermostat

recycling bin. (Exhibit 21)



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EXHIBIT 20: 11X6 POSTCARD

Side 1:

Side 2:



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EXHIBIT 21: HOLIDAY CARD TO CONTRACTORS

Outside (front and back of folded card): Inside:

Further HVAC Contractor Outreach

TRC staff helped develop a draft model HVAC contractor environmental policy and shared it with

the trade group, ACCA (Appendix 11). TRC’s goal is to work with ACCA and other trade groups to

provide this template as a service for contractor’s employee handbooks.

Consumer Outreach

In November TRC developed a tri-fold brochure specifically geared toward consumers in Maine

and Vermont (Exhibit 22). The brochure highlights the $5 incentive, includes information on how

to safely dispose of mercury thermostats and where to do so. The brochure PDF is now available

on TRC’s website as a promotional toolkit download, and hard copies are available by request.

Household Hazardous Waste Facility Outreach

In September TRC developed a tri-fold brochure specifically for household hazardous waste

(HHW) facilities to target their customers (Exhibit 23). It included information on how to locate

HHW facilities nation-wide using TRC’s website and information on how to properly prepare to



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dispose mercury thermostats. The brochure PDF is now available on TRC’s website as a

promotional toolkit download, and hard copies are available by request.

EXHIBIT 22: MAINE & VERMONT TRI-FOLD BROCHURE

Outside:

Inside:



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EXHIBIT 23: HHW TRI-FOLD BROCHURE

Outside:

Inside:



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Utility Program/Implementer Outreach

The TRC staff engaged with the industry leading company, Cadmus to produce a report identifying

current demand response projects. This report was able to show TRC which implementers had

current projects of demand response that involved thermostat replacement components. TRC

focused efforts on these implementers as a source for large thermostat replacement in areas such

as low-income and multi-family.

TRC staff wrote model utility implementer RFP requirements to share with utility companies

(Appendix 12). The focus of the model is to help utilities expand environmental compliance

requirements for their implementers. This language would essentially be a term of agreement

between the utility company and the hired implementer. TRC also began engagement with two

non-TRC members interested in the recycling mercury issue, ecobee and NEST, by submitting to

them MOU’s. All parties involved hope to do more with the TRC program.

TRC also engaged utility implementers who are members of Association of Energy Service

Professionals (AESP). In May TRC sent an email to AESP’s subscriber list to remind them of their

regulatory obligations and offer them a free TRC recycling container (Appendix 13). TRC sent a

follow up email in August (Appendix 14). The email in May received a 16% open rate and the one

in August received an 18% open rate. TRC did not receive any requests for the free recycling bin

offer.

7. Measures of success: describe methods of measuring success of outreach efforts,

including: the results of surveys of general public and targeted audience (e.g., contractors)

awareness of mercury thermostat collection programs and financial incentive; increases in

thermostat recycling program participation; improved quality of bin contents and incentive

vouchers; greater frequency of bin returns; increased usage of incentive vouchers;

increases in the number of participating collection sites.

OTHER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH


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EARNED MEDIA In 2015 TRC continued to enjoy positive and frequent coverage within the industry trade press,

appearing more than 20 times through a variety of publications. TRC issued many media releases

that were published, generating additional exposure for the program.

Notably, TRC continued to receive coverage and editorial pieces in industry leading publications

such as:

• The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (ACHR) News (370,378 reach), including a front

page editorial article (Exhibit 24)

• Distribution Center (11,000 circulation)

• Contracting Business (40,000 circulation)

• Johnstone Supply’s on-hold phone messaging and their printed flyer (300,000 circulation)

• HVAC-Talk.com (408,769 monthly unique browsers)

• Wholesale distributor’s on-hold phone messaging, including Johnstone Supply and

Standard Supply

• Johnstone Supply’s printed flyer (300,000 circulation)

Additionally, two of TRC’s employees, Ryan Kiscaden and Christyn Zehnder, were voted onto

HARDI’s first 40 under 40 list. The list recognizes the HVAC industry’s top performers and rising

stars who are younger than 40. The list will be published in the spring of 2016 in Distribution

Center Magazine. There were hundreds of eligible HARDI members considered, making this a

highly competitive group.



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EXHIBIT 24: ACHR NEWS FRONT PAGE EDITORIAL ARTICLE

TRC WEBSITE TRC’s website data is calculated through Google Analytics, and website traffic continued to

increase in 2015. TRC increased its total annual visitors by 71% compared to 2014. There was a

54% increase of visitors from Maine and the state ranked 11th among the country in terms of its

share of visitors to TRC’s website. The increase in traffic reflects the impact of paid trade channel

advertising, the Google AdWords campaign, and search engine optimization efforts.



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In May TRC implemented an automated welcome email for collection sites that sign-up for the

program through TRC’s website. In November TRC transitioned its current website into a

responsive website, meaning it is fully optimized for greater visibility across all devices including

mobile and tablets.

TRC’s social media presence increased as well. The TRC Twitter account saw a 42% increase in

number of followers in 2015, and its Facebook page enjoyed an 83% increase of page “Likes.”

TRADE SHOWS, CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS TRC staff attended, exhibited and/or presented at the following regional and national shows

pertaining to Maine:

• January 13th: Honeywell International Webinar (NEW)

Ryan Kiscaden presented a TRC Webinar to Honeywell International to an audience of 15

contractors. The webinar focused on ways for contractors to profit from recycling by using

other industry items to increase their profitability.

• January 25th – 28th: Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition.

Chicago, IL

TRC staff attended and exhibited at the AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration

Institute) Expo in Chicago. The show brought in over 2,000 exhibitors and 60,000 HVAC/R

professionals, including more than 1,171 in the New England region.

• February 9th – 13th: Association of Energy Service Professionals (AESP) Trade Show

Orlando, FL

AESP is the premier organization for professionals in the energy efficiency industry. Over

300 industry professionals attend the event including utility professionals and industry

advisors/implementers. TRC staff attended this show.

• February 12th: Product Stewardship Institute Webinar (NEW!)

TRC staff presented a webinar through the Product Stewardship Institute entitled



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“Connecting Rural HHW Program Managers to Manufacturer-Funded Take-Back Programs”

to an audience of 25 professionals.

• February 26th: AESP Brown Bag Webinar (NEW!)

TRC staff presented a Brown Bag Webinar to AESP on recycling programs for utilities and

utility implementers. The webinar was added to TRC’s YouTube page in April and received

33 views.

• March 3rd-4th: Johnstone Supply Member Meeting

San Diego, CA

Johnstone Supply is a cooperative wholesaler distributor of HVAC parts and equipment

with over 380 locations nationwide, including two in Maine. Johnstone’s Annual

Membership meeting is invitation only and TRC once again attended and exhibited as part

of an ongoing effort with Johnstone to encourage and expand the cooperative’s members’

participation. The event is well attended by owners and senior staff and remains a unique

opportunity to engage directly with key decision makers.

• March 15th – 18th: ACCA and the IE3: Indoor Environment & Energy Expo

Dallas, TX

Co-presented by Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), this expo is the largest

marketplace for the indoor environmental and energy services contracting industry. TRC

staff exhibited and promoted the program to attending HVAC contractors.

• March 27th: YouTube Video Presentation (NEW!)

TRC created and uploaded a video presentation entitled “Mercury Thermostats: A

Historical Overview and Review of Current Legislation” to TRC’s YouTube channel. The

video received 39 views in 2015.

• March 25th: ACCA Town Hall Webinar (NEW!)

A Town Hall Webinar was presented to ACCA members regarding the TRC Program.

• April 12th-14th: HARDI FOCUS Marketing & Sales Conference (NEW!)

Charleston, SC

TRC staff attended this conference where marketing and sales professionals learn from



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joint sessions that help them align their strategies and improve synergy between

departments.

• May 18th – 20th OESP Road Show

Hershey, PA

An annual convention with over 2,500 attendees representing close to 300 companies

across New England. TRC staff again exhibited at this show.

• May 28th: ACCA Webinar with Dynatemp (NEW!)

TRC teamed up with Dynatemp, a refrigerant manufacturer and recycler, to present a

Webinar on environmental compliance to the ACCA.

• September 14th – 16th: NAHMMA National Conference

Austin, TX

TRC staff attended the conference and sponsored the silent auction. The conference

facilitated peer-group interaction and exchange of ideas and information relating to

hazardous materials management. TRC staff gave a presentation on techniques for

marketing to target audiences, which was attended by more than 30 HHW professionals.

• October 6th: EEBA Excellence in Building Conference & Expo (NEW!)

Denver, CO

After joining the association and speaking with their Executive Director, TRC staff attended

the show for the first time. The conference focused on ways for both

residential/commercial HVAC contractors and home performance contractors to work

together.

• October 7th: IFMA World Workplace Conference & Expo

Denver, CO

Held annually, IFMA’s World Workplace meets the educational and networking needs of

professionals who support the built environment. IFMA promotes World Workplace year-

round to more than 23,000 members in 85 countries; plus an additional 200,000

workplace professionals. TRC staff attended for the first time.

• December 5th – 8th: HARDI National Conference

Orlando, FL



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TRC staff again exhibited and participated in the “Booth Program,” which provides for 1-

on-1 sessions with senior executive staff from HARDI member companies. This event

targeted representatives of approximately 80% of the wholesale market for HVACR

products. TRC also presented its annual “Big Man on the Planet Award.”

PROMOTIONS TRC implemented promotions to help incent and influence recycling behavior among HVAC

contractors at wholesale distributor locations throughout the state.

Johnstone Supply

In September, Johnstone Supply launched a 40 inch TV giveaway at 383 of their stores nationwide,

including two in Maine. Each mercury thermostat recycled earned entry into the giveaway. The

promotion was in partnership with Honeywell; a customer could earn additional entries by

purchasing any new Honeywell thermostat. During the promotion, Johnstone Supply incorporated

the TV giveaway promotion into their recorded messaging for customers calling who are put on

hold. The message was 45 seconds long and was in rotation with several other messages.

TRC provided Johnstone Supply full color 18x24 posters and a new cardboard header (Exhibit 25)

for the TRC merchandise display to promote awareness of the program in stores. A 4x6 sized

postcard (Exhibit 26) was then sent to all Johnstone locations on 10/15 as a reminder to send in

their bins after the TV promotion ended.



Page | 32

EXHIBIT 25: JOHNSTONE SUPPLY TV GIVEAWAY POSTER AND MERCHANDISE HEADER

EXHIBIT 26: JOHNSTONE SUPPLY POSTCARD

Front Side: Back Side:

Big Man on Planet Competition

TRC partnered with HARDI for the fourth annual Big Man on Planet (BMOP) competition. The

competition was restructured to allow for four distributor winners (as opposed to three in 2014)



Page | 33

and included a $500-$1,000 employee incentive to the top four branch locations within each tier.

The restructuring was implemented to provide a more fair tiered system, putting distributors with

a similar number of branch locations in competition with one another. In April TRC mailed an

invitation to the executives of 357 HARDI member principle contacts encouraging their

participation in the program (Exhibit 27). The competition ran May 1st – October 31st and

participating locations shipped a total of 432lbs of mercury during the competition.

EXHIBIT 27: BMOP INVITATION TO HARDI MEMBERS

Outside: Inside:

HVAC TECHNICIAN SURVEY TRC hired a third-party to create a contractor behavior survey to collect first-hand accounts about

recycling practices and compliance patterns of technicians as well as company level

acceptance/resistance to compliance. The technician survey was conducted in-person by TRC staff

and administered via touch screen devices at several HVAC trade shows nationwide, including the

Torrco Annual trade show in Connecticut and the GasNetworks show in Massachusetts. The

surveys were initiated by asking contractors to take a brief five minute survey regarding recycling

behavior for a chance to win a Bosch Tool.



Page | 34

If a technician indicated interest in participating they were handed the survey in the form of a

touch-screen tablet which had the survey questions already displayed for convenience. Survey

participation was incentivized by entry into a prize raffle for a Bosch tool give-away. The survey

had 46 respondents, and while it included contractors from several states, generally contractor

behavior tends to be similar nationwide.

Demographic

The first questions asked of the technicians were to determine their demographic:

The demographic data shows that there was a widely varied mix of business sectors and

experience levels. This means that the findings from the survey can be applied generally without a

need for demographic qualifiers. The largest business sector was Mechanical Contractor followed

by Owner Operator. These two sectors comprised 62% of the responding technicians. The

experience range of the respondents was diverse, reflecting a balance of both new and

experienced technicians.

Owner Operator

27%

Professional Dealer

8%

Mechanical Contractor35%

Refrigeration Contractor

10%

Commercial20%

What is the nature of your business?

Student11%

Less than 1 year13%

1-5 years22%

6-10 years2%

11-20 years11%

21 - 30 years26%

Longer than 30 years15%

How long have you worked as a technician/contractor?



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Disposal

To better understand where technicians dispose of mercury thermostats the following question

was posed:

The above chart shows that the main location for the disposal of mercury containing thermostats

is at the wholesaler. It also points out that roughly 25% of technicians do at least occasionally

throw the thermostats in the trash. The data shows that when technicians do dispose of the

mercury containing thermostats that they generally take them to the correct place, the wholesaler,

but it also shows that there is room for improvement in keeping the thermostats out of the trash.

The survey then inquired about what internal mechanisms employers might be using to encourage

technicians to recycle thermostats:

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Trash

Hardware Store

Company/Office

Wholesaler/Supply House

Where do you dispose of the mercury containing thermostats you collect?

Never Rarely Sometimes Most of the Time Always



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The fact that only 71% of employers require their technicians to recycle mercury containing

thermostats might explain why 25% of technicians may occasionally dispose of them in the trash.

In order to verify this a cross reference was drawn between whether employers require recycling

and technicians that throw away thermostats in the trash.

The above chart shows that 85% of technicians whose employer requires recycling of mercury

containing thermostats actually recycle. By contrast, only 50% recycle without employer

requirement. This strongly suggests that employer policies do have a substantive impact on

recycling by employees.

Yes71%

No29%

Are you required by your employer to recycle mercury containing thermostats?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

No

Yes


Disposes of thermostats in trash Recycles thermostats



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Mercury Containing Thermostat Prevalence

In an effort to determine how many mercury containing thermostats are still in use and whether

the number in use has significantly decreased the following question was posed:

When asked how the number of mercury containing thermostats encountered during their career

had changed most technicians felt that there had been a decrease. This leads to the conclusion that

the number of available thermostats has also decreased.

Environmental Concern

To gauge the level of which technicians are concerned about the environment and how mercury

plays in to that the following question was asked of technicians:

Increased7% Remained steady

9%

Decreased84%

Would you say that during the time you have worked as a technician/contractor the number of mercury containing

thermostats you encounter has...



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The above chart identifies that most technicians feel that mercury is very harmful and needs to be

kept out of the environment. This suggests that a campaign that highlights the negative impact

that mercury has on the environment and draws the connection to how technician recycling can

help reduce these impacts may be an effective way to boost participation.

Conclusions

The majority of technicians surveyed realize that mercury is harmful and needs to be kept out of

the environment. However, 25% of technicians still dispose of mercury containing thermostats in

the trash. Through this survey it is also known that over a quarter of technician employers do not

require that their technicians recycle mercury containing thermostats. This suggests that TRC

should work with employers to educate technicians on the program and encourage employers to

require that mercury containing thermostats are disposed of properly. Since most technicians

personally believe that mercury is bad for the environment creating an awareness campaign

educating technicians on the importance of recovering mercury containing thermostats will aid in

increasing participation. See Appendix 15 for survey raw results.

81%

15%4%

Which of the following statements best reflects your personal opinion of the harmfulness of mercury?

Mercury is very harmful and we need to do more to keep it out of the environment.

I don't know. I have no opinion about the harmfulness of mercury.

I don't think it is very harmful.

PROGRAM EXPENSES


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Below is a summary of TRC’s national program expenses for 2015. A copy of TRC’s 2014 IRS Form

990 is available by request.

EXHIBIT 28: 2015 PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Compared to last year, variances in these program components were flat. Causes for changes

include:

• Recycling Costs: A decrease in whole thermostats processed as compared to 2014.

Recycling costs are directly related to how many whole thermostats are collected at TRC’s

processing facility in Golden Valley, MN. The program’s collections decreased by a little

over 2%.

• Incentive/Promotional Payments: Incentive payments in Maine were flat. Maine’s

incentive payments (vouchers) shifted in 2015 to the contractor/wholesaler/HHW group

more than retail compared to 2014. See charts herein. In Vermont they were up with

more Retailers and Wholesalers participating. California incentive expenses were down

slightly, and Illinois promotional payments were down significantly due to a large

wholesaler choosing not to participate in an incentive program.

Program Component 2014 2015 % ChangeTRC Staff and Administration 593,631$ 625,205$ 5%Recycling Costs 356,043$ 347,555$ -2%Incentive/Promotional Payments 47,712$ 42,224$ -12%New Collection Containers 15,108$ 10,960$ -27%Travel 70,120$ 81,152$ 16%Legal 40,373$ 21,228$ -47%Direct Expense for Marketing & Outreach 289,347$ 277,995$ -4%

Total (expenses) 1,412,333$ 1,406,319$ 0%

PROGRAM EXPENSES


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2014

2015

• New Collection Containers: Orders were down 27%. TRC expects a continued decrease

in container orders because the program is operating in a mature collection environment

and available new locations to collect are decreasing.

• Travel: The Director of National Accounts spent more than 60% of his time attending

trade shows, site visits, and attending meetings with key corporate contacts. TRC visited

22 states, up 38% compared to 2014.

• Direct Expense for Marketing and Outreach: The category used for Marketing

Consulting was down considerably compared to 2014 due to the Director of Marketing and

PROGRAM EXPENSES


Page | 41

Communications taking on more responsibility. TRC also spent less on retail displays

compared to 2014. This is as a result of declining available locations which were willing to

accept merchandising displays for their businesses. Lastly, both Advertising and Graphic

Design increased as TRC created its new 2016 marketing campaign, “Recycle every

mercury thermostat, every time”.

EXHIBIT 29: 2015 PROGRAM EXPENSES WITH MAINE SPECIFIC COSTS

• TRC Staff and Administration: On July 1st 2015, TRC changed policy regarding tracking

of employee’s time worked. This procedural change was predicated by state specific

statutory regulations for TRC, particularly requirements on TRC to report costs associated

with its employee’s time allocated to state specific activities. This policy change was for all

TRC employees, including those who were exempt and non-exempt. The procedure was

implemented starting in July to offset this requirement. Although not a perfect subset of

data, the hours worked (as a percentage) were then mirrored to reflect employee’s time

worked for the first half of the year. The decision to mirror time worked was determined

due to the inaccuracies of having each employee go back to the start of the year and

identify their hours worked by state, particularly for those employees whom were exempt.

TRC acknowledges that it may under-estimate the hours worked in the state for 2015.

However, all new employees after July 1st 2015 and any time entered for 2016 will

accurately capture each employee’s actual time worked by state.

Category Total Expenses National METRC Staff and Administration 625,204.88$ 469,218.76$ 9,603.76$ Recycling Costs 347,555.25$ 199,057.25$ 7,999.25$ Incentive/Promotional Payments 42,224.42$ -$ 17,495.00$ New Collection Containers 10,960.00$ 10,960.00$ -$ Travel 81,152.16$ 42,928.84$ 2,435.09$ Legal 21,228.28$ 3,104.90$ 11,102.64$ Direct Expense for Marketing & Outreach 277,994.50$ 147,352.68$ 8,404.66$

Total (expenses) 1,406,319.49$ 872,622.43$ 57,040.39$

PROGRAM EXPENSES


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• New Collection Containers: Fulfillment of new collection containers is done annually at

TRC’s processing facility in Golden Valley, MN. TRC does not currently allocate the costs of

new containers to specific states, instead choosing to keep this in one cost center and

including any costs from an order for containers in “Recycling Costs”. In 2015, Maine

ordered 2.46% of all new container orders or 21 total new locations.

PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS


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This section of the report examines the annual performance of the thermostat collection recycling

program in terms of bins, thermostats, and mercury collected as well as the year over year

progression of the program.

TRC notes, that the mercury auto switch (ELVS) program collections have been trending

downward or flat at best in recent years in Maine. According to a recent report2, “they have not

been placed in vehicles since model year 2003.” Mercury switch thermostats have not been sold

since the mid 2000’s nor installed legally in many states. Moreover, many were replaced with non-

mercury units because electronic programmable thermostats had become available many years

earlier. Thus, given the correlation of neither discontinued product being placed in the market for

10 or more years, TRC results will reflect similar indicators from the mercury auto switch

program. See Appendix 18 for more information.

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE OVER TIME On average, the program has collected 27.1 pounds of mercury and 3,740 thermostats per

year since 2001. In 2015 the program collected 32.0 pounds of mercury from 4,571

thermostats, an increase from the previous year of 7% in pounds of mercury and 5% in

thermostats. Figure 1.1 displays the total number of bins collected, the total number of

thermostats, and the total pounds of mercury collected in the state since the beginning of the

program.

2 Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Implementing Product Stewardship in Maine, Jan. 2016. Web. 1 March 2016.



Page | 44

FIGURE 1.1: PROGRAM PERFORMANCE OVER TIME

Figure 1.2 graphically displays the number of bins collected in the state over time as well as the

total number of bins collected in the US over the same time period. The figure shows that the

number of bins collected annually in ME peaked in 2008 to 2012 with an average of 128 bins per

year. In 2013 the number of bins returned in the state dropped below 100 for the first time since

2007. It has subsequently increased to 104 in 2014 to 112 bins in 2015.

Year Number Bins Number Stats Lbs Mercury2001 3 233 1.67 2002 4 280 1.94 2003 6 482 4.49 2004 14 1,079 9.82 2005 16 1,492 16.89 2006 33 3,003 22.27 2007 67 4,656 36.92 2008 134 5,555 38.54 2009 133 6,374 44.45 2010 126 6,523 44.90 2011 136 6,616 46.36 2012 109 6,679 46.51 2013 85 4,213 29.45 2014 104 4,341 29.87 2015 112 4,571 32.03

Average 72.1 3,739.8 27.1 Total 1,082 56,097 406



Page | 45

FIGURE 1.2. BINS COLLECTED OVER TIME IN STATE AND NATIONALLY

In ME, the pounds of mercury collected in 2015 increased by 7% over 2014 levels. Since

2001, the annual pounds of mercury collected in ME has increased by an average of 31%. During

the same time period, the pounds of mercury collected in the nation increased by an average of

16% a year. Figure 1.3 displays the total number of pounds of mercury collected in the state over

time as well as the year over year percent increase (or decrease) in the state and the US as a

whole.



Page | 46

FIGURE 1.3: POUNDS OF MERCURY COLLECTED IN PROGRAM AND YEAR OVER YEAR CHANGES IN STATE AND US.

The state of ME collected 4,571 thermostats in 2015. This was a 5% increase over the number

of thermostats collected in 2014 and a 52% increase in the last decade. The number of

thermostats collected annually in ME has increased by an average of 30% every year since

2001. During the same time period, the number of thermostats collected in the US has increased

by an annual average rate of 11%. As with the number of bins, the state saw a peak in the number

of thermostats returned from 2008 through 2012. Figure 1.4 displays the total number of

thermostats collected in the state and the nation and figure 1.5 shares the underlying data as well

as the calculated year over year percent change.

Year Total Lbs Hg % Change State % Change US2001 1.67 N/A 89.4%2002 1.94 16% 13.7%2003 4.49 131% 11.0%2004 9.82 119% 17.0%2005 16.89 72% 11.1%2006 22.27 32% 32.1%2007 36.92 66% 2.0%2008 38.54 4% 16.3%2009 44.45 15% 16.3%2010 44.90 1% 26.1%2011 46.36 3% 3.6%2012 46.51 0% -5.3%2013 29.45 -37% -4.8%2014 29.87 1% 12.9%2015 32.03 7% -1.4%

Average 27.07 31% 16%



Page | 47

FIGURE 1.4: NUMBER OF THERMOSTATS COLLECTED OVER TIME STATE AND NATIONAL

FIGURE 1.5: THERMOSTATS COLLECTED IN RI AND US OVER TIME AND YEAR OVER YEAR PERCENT CHANGE

Year T-stats in ME T-stats in US % Change State % Change US2001 233 48,350 NA NA2002 280 61,422 20% 27%2003 482 65,778 72% 7%2004 1,079 81,115 124% 23%2005 1,492 87,754 38% 8%2006 3,003 113,658 101% 30%2007 4,656 114,158 55% 0%2008 5,555 135,646 19% 19%2009 6,374 155,731 15% 15%2010 6,523 200,064 2% 28%2011 6,616 199,918 1% 0%2012 6,679 189,619 1% -5%2013 4,213 181,600 -37% -4%2014 4,341 203,346 3% 12%2015 4,571 198,603 5% -2%

Average 3,739.8 135,784.1 30% 11%



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Figure 1.6 displays the monthly distribution of bins and thermostats collected in the state over

2015. The months with the greatest number of bins returned were May (20 bins) and October (15

bins). The months with the greatest number of thermostats returned were May (791

thermostats), March (653 thermostats), and December (550 thermostats). Conversely, the

months with the fewest number of thermostats returned in 2015 were February, September, and

January.

FIGURE 1.6. THERMOSTATS AND BINS COLLECTED PER MONTH 2015



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The highest number of thermostats per bin were in January (71.7) and March (54.4). Figure 1.7

shows the average number of thermostats per returned bin per month for the year.

FIGURE 1.7: AVERAGE THERMOSTATS PER BIN RETURNED PER MONTH

Figure 1.8 displays the average number of thermostats returned per bin in the state and in the US

since the beginning of the state program. Nationally, the number of thermostats per bin has been

decreasing annually since 2000. In ME the number of thermostats per bin in 2015 (40.8

thermostats / bin avg.) was the lowest on record and was below the 15 year average of 62.8

thermostats per bin. However, other than a bump in 2012 up to 61 thermostats per bin, the

number of thermostats per bin has been between 40 and 52 every year since 2008.



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FIGURE 1.8: AVERAGE NUMBER OF THERMOSTATS PER BIN OVER TIME IN STATE AND NATIONAL

Figure 1.9 plots the total bins returned over time along with the average number of thermostats

per bin over since 2001 to see whether or not there is a relationship between the two. A linear

regression found a strong negative correlation (r=-.86, slope=-.292) between the two variables.

This indicates that as more bins are returned, the number of thermostats per bin declines.

FIGURE 1.9: TOTAL BINS AND AVERAGE NUMBER OF THERMOSTATS PER BIN OVER TIME



Page | 51

The total pounds of mercury collected per 10,000 residents was 2.40 in 2015. This is a 7%

increase over the 2.25 pounds per 10,000 residents collected in 2014 and more than 40% greater

than the 1.68 pounds per 10,000 residents collected a decade ago. There was a large decrease

from 2012 (3.50) to 2013 (2.22) but over the last two years the pounds per 10,000 residents has

been increasing. Figure 1.10 displays the total pounds of mercury collected per 10,000 state

residents over time.

FIGURE 1.10: POUNDS OF MERCURY COLLECTED ANNUALLY PER 10,000 RESIDENTS

CHANNEL PARTNER ANALYSIS Section 2 of the report examines the partner locations in more detail. The majority of thermostats

collected in state were through retailers (52%) followed by wholesalers (32%). The remaining

thermostat returns were split between contractors (11%) and HHW facilities (5%). Figure 2.1

shows the distribution of thermostats collected by location type in 2015.



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FIGURE 2.1: THERMOSTATS COLLECTED BY LOCATION TYPE IN 2015

Although retailers returned the majority of thermostats in 2015, wholesalers returned the most

bins (45) followed closely by retailers with 44 bins returned in 2015. With the exception of

2008 (when the ‘other’ category accounted for 51 returned bins), over the past several years the

vast majority of the bins returned in ME came from wholesalers and retailers. Figure 2.2 displays

the change in the number of bins returned by thermostat collection type over time in the state.



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FIGURE 2.2: THERMOSTAT BIN RETURNS BY LOCATIONS OVER TIME

In 2015, 35.4% of the locations that had a bin in the state of ME sent back at least one bin for

recycling. The distribution is displayed in Figure 2.3.

FIGURE 2.3: PERCENTAGE OF STORES RETURNING A BIN IN 2015

Return Bin, 35.4%

Did not return, 64.6%



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Figure 2.4 is a scatter plot comparing the frequency of bin returns per location and the number of

thermostats per bin. The analysis sought to determine whether there was any correlation between

the frequency of return and the number of thermostats per bin. The data does not suggest that the

frequency of bins returns correlates with the number thermostats per bin in ME.

FIGURE 2.4: CORRELATION OF FREQUENCY OF BIN RETURN AND NUMBER OF THERMOSTATS PER BIN

An analysis of the top performing counties in terms of total bin returns and total thermostats

returned found that 15 out of ME’s 16 counties returned bins for recycling in 2015. The county

with the most bins returned in 2015 were Cumberland (26 bins), followed by Penobscot (19

bins) and Kennebec County (14 bins). The counties with the most thermostats returned in 2015

were Cumberland (1,402), Penobscot (724 thermostats) and York (971 thermostats). Figure

2.5 displays the total bins and thermostats returned, by county, in 2015.



Page | 55

FIGURE 2.5: BIN RETURNS AND TOTAL THERMOSTATS RETURNED IN 2015 BY COUNTY

F.W. Webb Co (17 bins) returned the highest number of bins in the state in 2015, followed by

Aubuchon Hardware (16 bins) and Bell / Simons Co. (10 bins). In addition to the top

performers included in the figure, 16 additional program partners returned 1 bin each. Figure 2.6

displays the top performing partners in terms of total bins returned in 2015.

FIGURE 2.6. TOP PERFORMING CHANNEL PARTNERS IN STATE

County Total Bins Total T-statsCumberland County 26 1,402Penobscot County 19 724Kennebec County 14 280York County 14 671Androscoggin County 8 309Sagadahoc County 7 269Aroostook County 5 181Hancock County 4 265Knox County 4 146Oxford County 3 52Piscataquis County 3 159Lincoln County 2 48Franklin County 1 2Waldo County 1 42Washington County 1 21



Page | 56

Figure 2.7 looks at the top performers in a more detail. The figure includes the top performers for

the year by each of the following categories: total bins returned, total thermostats, and average

number of thermostats per bin. While F.W. Webb Co returned the most bins, Aubuchon Hardware

returned 124 more thermostats.

FIGURE 2.7. TOP PERFORMING PARTNERS BY TOTAL BINS, TOTAL THERMOSTATS, AND THERMOSTATS PER BIN

TRC conducted several activities in 2015 as a way to increase the number of bins and thermostats

returned in the state. These activities included site visits and ‘miss you’ calls to collection locations

that may not have participated in the program recently. In 2015, a total of 34 site visits were and

34 ‘Miss You’ calls were placed in ME. Figure 2.8 displays the relationship between the number of

site visits per month, the bin returns per month, and the number of thermostats (in 100’s)

returned per month. A statistical analysis found no significant relationship between the two

variables.

No. of Bins No. of Thermostats Thermostats / BinF.W. Webb Co. 17 675 39.7Aubuchon Hardware 16 799 49.9Bell/Simons Co. 10 418 41.8Dead River Company 6 165 27.5Ecomaine 6 573 95.5Rogers Ace Hardware 4 149 37.3Sid Harvey Industries 3 63 21.0True Value 2 35 17.5Homans Associates 2 11 5.5Maine Ace Hardware 2 280 140.0Oakhill Hardware 2 69 34.5Portland Winnelson 2 38 19.0S.W. Collins Co. 2 121 60.5



Page | 57

FIGURE 2.8: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SITE VISITS AND BINS AND THERMOSTATS RETURNED PER MONTH

Figure 2.9 displays the relationship between the number of calls per month, the bin returns per

month, and the number of thermostats (by 100’s) returned per month. Although the graph

suggests that the calls may have helped to increase the number of returns, the analysis found that

there was not a statistically significant relationship between the two variables.



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FIGURE 2.9: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ‘MISS YOU’ CALLS AND BINS AND THERMOSTATS RETURNED PER MONTH

COMPARISIONS TO NATIONAL AND OTHER STATE’S DATA To compare how the state collection partners performed in 2015, the national averages for the

number of bins returned per total locations since 2012 was calculated and compared to the state

average over the same time period. The average numbers of bins includes locations that did not

return any bins in a given year. It should be noted that when making comparisons each state has

different regulations, housing stock mix, local policies, and incentives that may have a significant

impact on returns. Overall, the average number of bin returned per location per year was lower in

ME than the US average and the annual averages are shown in figure 3.1.

FIGURE 3.1: AVERAGE NUMBER OF BINS RETURNED PER LOCATION PER YEAR

2012 2013 2014 2015US Total 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.8ME Average 0.9 0.7 0.9 1.0



Page | 59

Figure 3.2 displays the locations in ME that returned more than one bin in a given year since 2012

and figure 3.3 displays the top 10 partners in the US over the same time period in terms of the

number of bins returned.

FIGURE 3.2: PARTNER LOCATIONS IN ME RETURNING MORE THAN 1 BIN PER YEAR 2012-2015

Location 2012 Bins Location 2014 Bins ECOMAINE 22 F. W. Webb Company 16 F. W. Webb Company 15 Bell Simons Company 8 Aubuchon Hardware 14 Aubuchon Hardware 6 Bell Simons Company 7 True Value 6 Dead River Company 5 ECOMAINE 5 True Value 5 Ferguson Enterprises 5 Ferguson Enterprises 4 ACE Hardware 4 ACE Hardware 3 Dead River Company 3 Clark & Co Brewer (Bell/Simons Co) 3 OAKHILL HARDWARE 3 Town 2 Town 2 Sid Harvey Industries 2 Sid Harvey Industries 2 OAKHILL HARDWARE 2 S.W. Collins Company 2 RANKIN INC 2 Mid-Coast Solid Waste Corp. 2 S.W. Collins Company 2 Johnstone Supply 2 Johnstone Supply 2 Webber Supply Inc. 2 Maine Homeowner Bin 2 RIVERSIDE RECYCLING 2 Location 2013 Bins The Granite Group 2 F. W. Webb Company 18 Maine Homeowner Bin 2 ECOMAINE 8 Location 2015 Bins Bell Simons Company 7 F.W. Webb Co. 17 Webber Supply Inc. 5 Aubuchon Hardware 16 Aubuchon Hardware 4 Bell/Simons Co. 10 ACE Hardware 3 Dead River Company 6 Dead River Company 3 Ecomaine 6 True Value 3 Rogers Ace Hardware 4 Ferguson Enterprises 3 Sid Harvey Industries 3 Sid Harvey Industries 2 True Value 2 OAKHILL HARDWARE 2 Homans Associates 2 NORTHERN BURNER SUPPLY CO. INC. 2 Maine Ace Hardware 2 Clark & Co Brewer (Bell/Simons Co) 2 Oakhill Hardware 2 United Refrigeration 2 Portland Winnelson 2

S.W. Collins Co. 2



Page | 60

FIGURE 3.3: TOP PERFORMING PARTNER LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE IN BIN RETURNS 2012 TO 2015

Figure 3.4 displays the total percentage of locations per state and for the entire US with a bin that

participated in the program in 2015 (participation is defined as sending back at least one bin). In

2015, 35.4% of the locations in ME returned a bin compared to a national average of 37.1%.

The state with the highest percentage of locations returning a bin in 2015 was MN (54.5%).



Page | 61

FIGURE 3.4: PERCENTAGE OF LOCATIONS RETURNING A BIN IN 2015



Page | 62

Figure 3.5 compares the state and national rates for a number of analytics in 2015. These include:

the total thermostats and bins collected, the number of collection locations in each state per

10,000 residents, the number of thermostats collected by total locations and per participating

location, the number of thermostats per bin returned on average in 2015, and the number of

thermostats collected in each state and the US per 10,000 residents.

FIGURE 3.5: COMPARISONS OF STATES AND US AVERAGES AMONG SEVERAL CATEGORIES

StateTotal Thermostats

Total Bins

Number locations per 10K Res (avg.)

Thermostats per total locations (avg.)

Thermostats per bin (avg.)

Thermostats per location returning a bin (avg.)

Thermostats per 10K residents (avg.)

CA 18,260 513 0.19 25.1 35.6 65.4 4.7CT 3,395 77 0.38 24.6 44.1 55.7 9.4IA 2,795 63 0.39 23.1 44.4 53.8 9.0IL 10,193 236 0.41 19.3 43.2 55.1 7.9MA 7,881 128 0.41 28.0 61.6 89.6 11.6ME 4,571 112 1.82 18.8 40.8 53.2 34.3MN 9,864 127 0.26 68.0 77.7 124.9 17.9MT 229 6 0.23 9.5 38.2 45.8 2.2NH 2,652 61 1.51 13.1 43.5 49.1 19.9NY 6,466 201 0.26 12.5 32.2 40.4 3.3PA 14,338 256 0.29 38.9 56.0 81.0 11.2RI 2,212 39 0.53 39.5 56.7 92.2 21.0VT 2,000 83 3.22 9.9 24.1 29.0 31.9US 84,856 1902 0.33 23.9 44.6 64.3 7.8

PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS


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2016 ANNUAL GOALS TRC again set annual goals for the organization for the calendar year of 2016. The 2016 goals

were developed by TRC staff and incorporate each operational area of the organization, including:

1) Continue to increase efforts of collecting mercury thermostats by exploring non-

traditional avenues

2) Steer TRC toward tactical, positive, cohesive messaging while implementing marketing

strategies

3) Continue fulfilling all members’ state specific legal requirements without losing continuity

4) Maximize human capital opportunities by utilizing available internal and external

resources

Many of the activities which drive TRC’s daily functions are captured in the spirit of these goals.

Developing a list of high level external goals allows TRC to keep its focus on the ultimate mission

of recycling every mercury thermostat, every time.

COLLECTION LOCATION TOUCH CAMPAIGN In 2016 TRC will launch a comprehensive location outreach plan that strategically coordinates and

schedules outbound phone calls, reminder postcards, and site visits throughout the year. Designed

around the year’s site visit travel schedule, phone calls have been scheduled to occur within two

months of TRC staff physically visiting a state, and postcards have been scheduled to follow up

these phone calls within two months. Special attention will be focused on states with mandatory

collection programs, including Maine, which will entail up to 120 phone calls to collection

locations that have not returned a bin within the past year. States with non-mandatory collection

programs will continue to receive up to 60 collection location phone calls in 2016.

Additionally, each state’s TRC collection locations which haven’t returned a bin within the last year

will continue to receive reminder “Miss you” postcards every four months of the year. By

strategically coordinating the time of outreach between these three mediums (site visits, phone

calls, postcards) TRC hopes to maximize the impact of each initiated contact effort.



Page | 64

BRANDING CAMPAIGN In January TRC placed a full-page color ad in ACHR News, one of the industry’s leading HVAC

publication with a weekly circulation of more than 33,000 (Exhibit 30). The ad appeared during

the week of the AHR Expo, which is one of the more popular issues of the magazine. The ad tied

TRC’s members and affiliates together around the call to action of recycling every mercury

thermostat, every time. TRC resized this ad to place a half-page size in the February issue of

HVACR Business Magazine as well.

EXHIBIT 30: ACHR NEWS FULL PAGE AD



Page | 65

Additionally in January, TRC launched a new branding campaign: “Recycle every mercury

thermostat, every time” (Exhibit 31). The campaign messaging is based off frequent feedback TRC

staff receives from contractors, who tend to comment, “What’s the big deal about mercury? I used

to play with it in school as a kid.” This new messaging compares mercury thermostats to kids

playing with HVAC tools. HVAC tools are safe when used properly, just like mercury thermostats

are safe when recycled and disposed of properly.

EXHIBIT 31: NEW BRANDING CAMPAIGN

TRC updated its trade show booth display with the new artwork and messaging, and the campaign

will continue throughout the year in print and digital advertising placements, with several

different versions featuring different kids with tools.



Page | 66

PAID ADVERTISING Additionally, TRC is currently working to update its Google AdWords campaign to include display

ads, which include images versus only text, to enhance the visibility of the ads. TRC also plans to

implement Facebook, and potentially YouTube, advertising in the spring and fall during the HVAC

industry’s busier seasons when mercury thermostats are more likely to be replaced. Ads will have

similar messaging to the Google AdWords campaign and be targeted to states with disposal bans.

Some additional planned advertising and promotion (subject to change) include:

• 1/4pg full-color ad in Distribution Center Magazine for three months

• 1/2pg spot-color ad in HVAC Insider New England for four months

• Skyscraper banner ad on ACHRNews.com for two months

• Website Topic Sponsorship on ACHRNews.com for three months

• Top leaderboard ad in ACHR News enewsletter for two months

• ACHR News digital edition video spotlight

• ACHR News digital edition sponsorship

• Feature leaderboard ad in NATE’s bi-monthly enewsletter for two months

• Medium rectangle banner ad in Distribution Center’s weekly enewsletter for two months

• Banner ad in AHRI’s weekly newsletter for 13 weeks

• HVACR Business Magazine’s web package for two months, including a video and three

different sized ads on their website

• Continue to exhibit at regional and key national industry events.

• TRC plans on continuing efforts to engage larger contractors and HVAC wholesale

distributors

APPENDIX 1: OESP DEDICATED EMAIL BLAST


Page | 67

APPENDIX 2: CONTRACTING BUSINESS JANUARY EBLAST


Page | 68

APPENDIX 3: CONTRACTING BUSINESS JUNE EBLAST


Page | 69

APPENDIX 4: LETTER TO CONTRACTOR, RETAIL AND HHW COLLECTION SITES


Page | 70

APPENDIX 5: LETTER TO HVAC DISTRIBUTOR COLLECTION SITES


Page | 71

APPENDIX 6: LETTER TO HARDI CEOS


Page | 72

APPENDIX 7: COLLECTION LOCATION PHONE CALLS


Page | 73

Date Collection Location City 5/20/2015 Homans Associates Hampden 5/20/2015 Bell/Simons Co-Sanford Sanford 5/21/2015 Sid Harvey Industries-Presque Isle Presque Isle 5/22/2015 Mid Maine Swa Corinna 5/22/2015 Tri-County Union 7/9/2015 Custom Climate Control Alfred 7/14/2015 Aubuchon Hardware-Raymond Raymond 7/29/2015 Bond Brothers Lumber Jefferson 7/30/2015 The Granite Group-Oakland Oakland 8/5/2015 Aubuchon Hardware-Raymond Raymond 10/22/2015 Custom Climate Control Alfred 10/22/2015 The Simons Company-Auburn Auburn 10/22/2015 Redlon & Johnson Augusta 10/22/2015 The Simons Company-Bangor Bangor 10/22/2015 Sid Harvey Brewer 10/22/2015 F.W. Webb Co.-Caribou Caribou 10/22/2015 Bangor Pipe And Supply Ellsworth 10/22/2015 Gosline'S Hardware Farmingdale 10/22/2015 Redlon & Johnson-Lewiston Lewiston 10/22/2015 SELCO Lewiston 10/22/2015 Drillen True Value Lewiston 10/22/2015 Aubuchon Hardware #135 Naples 10/22/2015 Blakes Hardware Oakland 10/22/2015 Rockingham Electrical Supply Portland 10/22/2015 Sid Harvey Industries-Portland Portland 10/22/2015 The Granite Group-Portland Portland 10/23/2015 The Granite Group-Portland Portland 10/23/2015 Webber Supply Inc.-Portland Portland 10/23/2015 Wesco/Standard Electric Company portland 10/23/2015 S. W. Collins Co Presque Isle 10/23/2015 Wilbur G. Shaw Hardware Sanford 10/23/2015 F.W. Webb-South Portland South Portland 10/23/2015 Standish Hardware Standish 10/23/2015 F.W. Webb Co. - Windham Windham

APPENDIX 8: COLLECTION LOCATION SITE VISITS (SORTED BY DATE VISITED, THEN ALPHABETICALLY BY CITY)


Page | 74

Date of visit

Collection Location City Zip Code

County

3/3/2015 F.W. Webb Co.-Biddeford Biddeford 04005 York County 3/3/2015 Bell/Simons Co-Biddeford Biddeford 04005 York County 3/3/2015 Coastal Winair Division Biddeford 04005 York County 3/3/2015 P & E Enterprises Sanford 04073 York County 3/3/2015 Bell/Simons Co-Sanford Sanford 04073 York County 9/29/2015 Bangor Pipe & Supply Bangor 04401 Penobscot County 9/29/2015 Dead River Brewer 04412 Penobscot County 9/29/2015 Sid Harvey Brewer 04412 Penobscot County 9/29/2015 F.W. Webb Co.-Caribou Caribou 04736 Aroostook County 9/29/2015 S.W. Collins Caribou 04736 Aroostook County 9/29/2015 Dead River Co - Houlton Houlton 04730 Aroostook County 9/29/2015 Aubuchon Hardware - LINCOLN LINCOLN 04457 Penobscot County 9/29/2015 S.W. Collins Company Lincoln 04457 Penobscot County 9/29/2015 S. W. Collins Co Presque

Isle 04769 Aroostook County

9/29/2015 Sid Harvey Industries-Presque Isle Presque Isle

04769 Aroostook County

9/29/2015 Redlon & Johnson-Presque Isle Presque Isle


9/29/2015 Daigle Oil Co Presque Isle


9/29/2015 Presque Isle Hhw Presque Isle


9/30/2015 Rockingham Electric Supply Augusta 04330 Kennebec County 9/30/2015 Paradis True Value Bar Harbor 04609 Hancock County 9/30/2015 Aubuchon Hardware #171 Belfast 04915 Waldo County 9/30/2015 Dead River Company-Ellsworth Ellsworth 04605 Hancock County 9/30/2015 Bangor Pipe And Supply Ellsworth 04605 Hancock County 9/30/2015 Dead River -Hallowell Hallowell 04347 Kennebec County 9/30/2015 F.W. Webb Co.-Rockland Rockland 04841 Knox County 9/30/2015 Dead River Company-Waterville Waterville 04901 Kennebec County 10/1/2015 Drillen True Value Lewiston 04240 Androscoggin County 10/1/2015 Aubuchon Hardware # 128 Lewiston 04240 Androscoggin County 10/1/2015 Redlon & Johnson-Lewiston Lewiston 04243 Androscoggin County 10/1/2015 Aubuchon Hardware #035 Portland 04103 Cumberland County 10/1/2015 Portland Winnelson Portland 4106 Cumberland County 10/1/2015 Stevens Hardware Sabattus 04280 Androscoggin County 10/1/2015 F.W. Webb - South Portland South

Portland 04106 Cumberland County

10/1/2015 Trane Co.-Westbrook Westbrook 04092 Cumberland County

APPENDIX 9: LETTER TO WINSUPPLY LOCATIONS


Page | 75

APPENDIX 10: LETTER TO CONTRACTORS


Page | 76

APPENDIX 11: SAMPLE CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE POLICY


Page | 77



Page | 78



Page | 79



Page | 80



Page | 81



Page | 82

APPENDIX 12: SAMPLE UTILITY IMPLEMENTER RFP REQUIREMENTS


Page | 83

Standard RFP Language for Management of Waste Mercury Thermostats Generated through

direct installation (DI) of thermostats or HVAC Equipment

Background

Mercury thermostats were widely used to control heating and cooling systems starting in the

1950s. Mercury thermostats dominated the market until the early 1990s when electronic

thermostats began to gain wider acceptance in the market. All major manufacturers ceased

production of mercury switch thermostats by 2009. While the number remaining in use is

unknown, they are still found on some heating and cooling systems installed prior to 2006.

Mercury thermostats are still prevalent in the following types of facilities;

• Residential single family homes - either attached, detached, or semi-attached

• Residential multifamily homes such as apartments or low income housing structures

• Light commercial buildings such as hotels, restaurants, banks, and retail outlets

• Educational buildings such as schools, colleges, and libraries

• Barracks and other military installations

Statutory Authorities

Title 21 Section 27-2105 of New York Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) prohibits knowing

disposal of mercury thermostats in solid waste and waste mercury thermostats can be managed

as “Universal Wastes” under the Federal Resource Recovery and Conservation Act (40 CFR Part

273)“

Title 29, Section 27-2909 of ECL also requires the following:



Page | 84

§ 3. 1. Any person or contractor who replaces a mercury-containing thermostat from a

building shall deliver the mercury-containing thermostat to an appropriate collection site.

And:

3. Any department, authority, instrumentality, or municipal corporation of the state administering

a program that involves the removal or replacement of mercury containing thermostats as a result

of any statutory requirement, shall inform contractors of their statutory obligations to deliver the

mercury-containing thermostats to a collection site and prohibiting the disposal of such

thermostats in a solid-waste facility.

4. Any contractor, organization or subcontractor of such organization, who contracts with or

receives funding or financing provided in whole or in part by or through any department, agency,

instrumentality, or political subdivision of the state for the installation, service, or removal of

heating, ventilation, or air-conditioning components resulting in the removal or handling of out-

of-service mercury thermostats, shall ensure the collection, transportation and proper

management of out-of-service mercury thermostats in accordance with the provisions of title 29

of article 27 of the environmental conservation law.

RFP Language

The vendor, all subcontractors, and affiliated parties in the trade channel including but not

limited to trade allies, preferred installation vendors or rebate processors must comply

with all applicable federal, state, local regulations in relation to the proper management

and disposal of waste mercury thermostats generated in the performance of the requested

scope of work. The vendor will describe efforts to inform program subcontractors and

affiliated parties in the trade channel including but not limited to trade allies, preferred

installation vendors or rebate processors on New York law relative to the removal and

disposal of mercury thermostats. The vendor should also describe any planned steps to

support and/or facilitate the collection of mercury thermostats generated through this

program by direct participation in the TRC program. The vendor will describe procedures



Page | 85

all technicians (direct installers) will follow to identify mercury thermostats and ensure

proper management of all mercury thermostats removed from service. The vendor will

also describe the procedures to monitor and document (report) compliance with the

above requirement and for meeting post project reporting requirements below. The

successful vendor may be required to provide more information to verify its compliance

with above requirement which will include at a minimum;

• A post project report of the following information;

o Total number of thermostats installed

o The number of mercury thermostats removed from service

o The number of mercury thermostats recycled and the location(s) where

the thermostats were recycled.

APPENDIX 13: MAY EMAIL TO AESP SUBSCRIBER LIST


Page | 86

APPENDIX 14: AUGUEST EMAIL TO AESP SUBSCRIBERS


Page | 87

APPENDIX 15: HVAC TECHNICIAN SURVEY RAW RESULTS


Page | 88

DEMOGRAPHIC

Male92%

Female8%

What is your gender?

Less than 164% 16 to 19

7%

20 to 240%

25 to 3427%

35 to 4418%

45 to 5418%

55 to 6424%

65 or over2%

What is your current age? (U.S. Census)

Owner Operator

27%

Professional Dealer

7%

Mechanical Contractor34%

Refrigeration Contractor

12%

Commercial20%

What is the nature of your business?

Student11%

Less than 1 year13%

1-5 years22%

6-10 years2%

11-20 years11%

21 - 30 years26%

Longer than 30 years15%

How long have you worked as a technician/contractor?



Page | 89

THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT

1-263%

3-528%

6-104%

20+5%

How many thermostats do you remove/replace in an average week as part of your job?

Less than 25%38%

25 to 50%36%

51% to 75%17%

76% to 100%9%

What percentage of the thermostats you replaced in 2014 would you estimate contained mercury?



Page | 90

MERCURY CONTAINING THERMOSTAT PREVALENCE

Increased7%

Remained steady9%

Decreased84%

Would you say that during the time you have worked as a technician/contractor the number of mercury containing

thermostats you see has...



Page | 91

EMPLOYER POLICIES

INCENTIVES

Yes71%

No29%


Yes48%No

52%

To your knowledge, are there any incentives provided by utilities (eg. energy companies) to

encourage recycling of thermostats?



Page | 92

DISPOSAL

Where do you dispose of the mercury containing thermostats you collect?

Never55%

Rarely19%

Sometimes5%

Most of the Time

5%

Always16%

Company/office

Never25%

Rarely7%

Sometimes11%

Most of the Time21%

Always36%

Wholesaler/Supply House

Never64%

Rarely8%

Sometimes

17%

Most of the Time

3%

Always8%

Hardware Store

Never76%

Rarely6%

Sometimes8%

Most of the Time

5%

Always5%

Trash



Page | 93

GREEN BIN UTILIZATION

MERCURY HARMFULNESS

Yes64%

No36%

If you recycle thermostats, do you recycle them in a green bin?

81%

15%

4%

Which of the following statements best reflects your personal opinion of the harmfulness of mercury?

Mercury is very harmful and we need to do more to keep it out of the environment.

I don't know. I have no opinion about the harmfulness of mercury.

I don't think it is very harmful.

APPENDIX 16: PARTICIPATING MANUFACTURERS


Page | 94

Manufacturer Contact Address_1 Address_2 City State Zip Email PhoneBard Manufacturing Dick Hanna 1935 Palouse Drive London OH 43140 [email protected] 419.630-3051Burnham Holdings, Inc. Laura

HattonUS Boiler Company/Burnham Holdings

1241 Harrisburg Pike

Lancaster PA 17601 [email protected] 717-390-7807

Carrier Corporation Marc Moss 5900 Northwoods Business Pkwy

Carrier Parkway, TR-4

Charlotte NC 28269 [email protected] 980-474-3901

Chromalox Gary Cook 103 Gamma Drive Ext Pittsburg PA 15238 [email protected] (801) 786-4316Climate Master, Inc. James

Murray16 South Pennsylvania Ave Oklahoma City OK 73107 [email protected] 405-235-4546

Crane Company Anthony D'Iorio

100 First Stamford Place Stamford CT 06092 [email protected] (203) 363-7243

Daikan Applied (McQuay) Bill Mateikis 13600 Industrial Park Blvd Plymouth MN 55441 [email protected] 763.553.5091

Empire Comfort Systems Ken Belding 918 Freeburg Avenue Belleville IL 62222 [email protected] (800) 851-3453

General Electric Bonnie Harrington

4200 Wildwood Parkway Atlanta GA 30339 [email protected] (678) 844-7418

Goodman Global, Inc. Allan Peters 5151 San Felipe Suite 500 Houston TX 77056 [email protected] (713) 263-5068

Honeywell International Dan O'Donnell

4 Old Four Bridges Road Chester NJ 07930 dan.O'[email protected] 763 226 5435

Hunter Fan Company Tony Bacon 7130 Goodlett Farms Prkwy Suite 400 Memphis TN 38016 [email protected] 901.248.2619Invensys Controls (Schneider Electric)

Peter Kent 33 Commercial Street Foxboro MA 02035 [email protected] (203) 438-0009

ITT Corporation Fern Daves 1133 Westchester Avenue Westchester NY 10604 [email protected] 914-641-2148Johnson Controls Jeff Werwie 507 E. Michigan Street Milwaukee WI 53202 [email protected] 414-524-4757 Lear Seigler (Original Charter Corporation)

Jim Mathews

PO Box 457 Bonita Springs FL 34133 [email protected] (908) 900-2751

Lennox Corporation Robert Johnson

2140 Lake Park Blvd Richardson TX 75080 [email protected] 972-497-7532

Lux Products Robert Munin

4747 S Broad Street #330 Philadelphia PA 19112 [email protected] (856) 234-7905 ext 110

Nordyne Bob Bentz 8000 Phoenix Parkway O'Fallon MO 63368 [email protected] (636) 561-7571PSG Controls Patti Cole wee5 Runnel Road Perkasie PA 18944 [email protected] 215-257-3621Rheem Manufacturing Company

Charles Steffens

5600 Old Greenwood Road PO Box 17010 Ft Smith AR 72917 [email protected] (479) 648-4609

Sears Holding Company Mike Olsen 3333 Beverly Road B5-339A Hoffman Estates IL 60179 [email protected] (847) 286-7222

Taco, Inc. David Grof 1160 Cranston Street Cranston RI 02920 [email protected] (401) 942-8000 ext. 279

The Marley-Wylain Company

James Cauley

400 South Prairie Ave. Waukesha WI 53186 [email protected] (262) 513-0600

TPI Corporation Jerry Donaldson

PO Box 4973 Johnson City TN 37602 [email protected] (423) 477-4131 ext 271

Trane Residential Systems

Karl Mutchnik

6200 Troup Highway PO Box 9010 Tyler TX 75711 [email protected] (903) 245-4838

Uponor, Inc. Dale Stroud 5925 148th Street W. Apple Valley MN 55124 [email protected] (952) 997-4281Vaillant Corporation Susan

ThressPO Box 95 Palmyra NJ 08065 [email protected] (856) 786-2000

W. W. Grainger Inc Bill Raven 100 Grainger Parkway Lake Forest IL 60045 [email protected] (847) 535-0661White Rodgers John Sartain 8100 W. Florissant Ave. PO Box 36922 St. Louis MO 63136-

[email protected] 314 553 3212

APPENDIX 17: THERMOSTATS RETURNED BY COLLECTION LOCATION (SORTED ALPHABETICALLY BY BUSINESS TYPE, THEN CITY)


Page | 95

Business Type

Location Name Street Street 2

City Zip Contact Phone Date of Last Bin Receipt

Bin Number

Contractor RJ Energy 2184 North Belfast Ave AUGUSTA 04330 John Ramsey 207-622-7720

02/26/2013 M11850

Contractor Mechanical Services, Inc. 40 Gabriel Drive Augusta 04330 207-626-0822

09/01/2015 M13635

Contractor Bangor Housing Authority 161 Davis Road Bangor 04401 207-942-6365

M13070

Contractor Mechanical Services, Inc. 72 Freedom Parkway Bangor 04401 207-947-6250

M13568

Contractor Oliver's Heating and Plumbing 230C Bomarc Road Bangor 04401 Tammy 925-833-8032

12/09/2015 M19587

Contractor DEAD RIVER COMPANY 665 Elm Street Biddeford 04005 Larry Laverriere

207-283-1404

04/17/2015 M11830

Contractor DEAD RIVER COMPANY 103 South Main Street Brewer 04412 207-989-2770

10/06/2015 M11837

Contractor A PLUS PLUMBING & HTG INC. 209 PORTLAND ROAD BRIDGTON 04009 MELISSA 207-647-2029

M11750

Contractor Gagnon Heating and Air Conditioning 14 Seymour Drive Bridgton 04009 Will Boutin 207-647-8782

01/11/2016 M13587

Contractor DEAD RIVER COMPANY 2 Industrial Parkway Brunswick 04011 Sara Crowley 207-729-6688

M11858

Contractor A.E. ROBINSON OIL CO INC 1020 W. MAIN STREET DOVER-FOXCROFT

04426 Mark Robinson

207-564-8131

01/19/2015 M11757

Contractor Dog House Energy Services 48 Ringrose Road Freeport 04032 Maria Wescott 207-865-0989

M19260

Contractor Maher Heating Inc. 44 Cedar Breeze South Glenburn 04401 Corey Maher 207-989-3056

07/31/2015 M18330

Contractor DEAD RIVER COMPANY 29 Bangor Street Houlton 04730 Gerald Wilson 207-532-2283

10/23/2014 M11847

Contractor DOWNEAST ENERGY 14 DEPOT STREET KENNEBUNK 04043 JULIE GLOVER 207-467-2619

M13777

Contractor Garrett Pillsbury Plumbing and Heating 119 YORK STREET KENNEBUNK 04043 ROLAND LARUE

207-985-2130

02/10/2016 M10818



Page | 96

Contractor JL Huntley, Inc. 88 Dublin Street Machias 04654 207-255-8033

05/12/2015 M11803

Contractor DEAD RIVER COMPANY 131 MAIN ST MADAWASKA 04756 Mike 207-728-6307

06/15/2015 M11841

Contractor DEAD RIVER COMPANY 795 Central Street MILLINOCKET 04462 Wally Tapley 207-723-5151

03/17/2015 M13624

Contractor Richard P Waitz Plumb & Htg 179 Presumpscot St Portland 04103 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

03/15/2016 M13571

Contractor Mechanical Services, Inc. 400 Presumpscot Street Portland 04103 207-774-1531

12/12/2014 M13568

Contractor Daigle Oil Co 782 North Main Street Presque Isle 04769 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

05/27/2014 M13618

Contractor DEAD RIVER COMPANY 33 Prospect Ave Rumford 04276 Rodney Cote 207-364-3751

12/18/2015 M13656

Contractor JOHNSON & JORDAN 18 MUSSEY ROAD SCARBOROUGH 04074 MARK NIELSEN 207-883-8345

M11254

Contractor P. Gagnon & Son Inc. 215 Main St South Berwick 03908 Dave Ellis 207-384-2213

07/23/2015 M13590

Contractor DEAD RIVER COMPANY 500 Kennedy Memorial Dr.

WATERVILLE 04901 Don McCollett 207-873-5115

11/14/2012 M11834

Demo CHRIS KAST 75 MARKET STREET SUITE 203

PORTLAND 04101 M15460

HHW Facility ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS INC. 664 WASHINGTON STREET AUBURN 04210 BRETT C. ROGERS

207-786-7390

01/28/2016 G12852

HHW Facility Maine Homeowner Bin 17 State House Station Augusta 04330 Brian Karsjens

12/03/2014 M13108

HHW Facility Maine Department of Environmental Protection

4 Blossom Lane Augusta 04333 Ann Pistell 202-287-7703

03/15/2016 M13669

HHW Facility Belfast Transfer Station 32 Little River Drive Belfast 04915 Sandy Carey 207-338-1817

M13565

HHW Facility Town of Belgrade 1 Transfer Road Belgrade 04917 Bill Nason M13238 HHW Facility Town of Bethel 1069 Mayville Road P.O.

Box 1660

Bethel 04217 Dave M13222



Page | 97

HHW Facility Blue Hill Transfer Station 885 Ellsworth Road Blue Hill 04614 Jeff Jewett 207-374-5458

04/25/2014 M13220

HHW Facility Town of Bowdoinham Old Post Road Bowdoinham 04008 David Berry 07/13/2015 M13062 HHW Facility Bristol HHW PO Box 147 Bristol 04539 Shawn

Dinsmore M13239

HHW Facility Town of Buckfield Transfer Station 114 Sumner Road Buckfield 04220 Phil McAlister M13230 HHW Facility Town of Buxton 185 Portland Road Buxton 04093 Greg

Keffernan M13067

HHW Facility Calais HHW Transfer Road Calais 04619 Mark Magoon M13247 HHW Facility Naples Bulky Waste 449 Leach Hill Road Casco 04015 Eric Hanscom M13069 HHW Facility Clinton HHW 27 Bakers Street Clinton 04927 Howard M13251 HHW Facility Pleasant River Solid Waste Disposal 1340 US HIGHWAY 1 COLUMBIA

FALLS 04623 M13259

HHW Facility Mid Maine SWA Recycling Center Town Line Road

Corinna 04928 Trampas King M13063

HHW Facility Denmark Transfer Station 37 Hancock Pond Road Denmark 04022 02/03/2016 M13226 HHW Facility Dover-Foxcroft Transfer Station Landfill Road Dover

Foxcroft 04426 Joe Sands 207-564-

7940 03/25/2015 M13582

HHW Facility Dresden HHW 103 Perry Drive Dresden 04302 Dave Probert M13253 HHW Facility Waterboro HHW 24 Townhouse Road East

Waterboro 04030 Clinton

Andrews 07/22/2015 M13246

HHW Facility Town of Cape Elizabeth 10 Cooper Dr Elizabeth 04107 Pat Anderson M13064 HHW Facility Kennebec Valley COG 17 Main Street Fairfield 04937 Ross Nason 207-453-

4258 M19207

HHW Facility FALMOUTH PUBLIC WORKS 101 WOODS RD FALMOUTH 04105 Jeffrey Buxton 03/26/2015 M13068 HHW Facility TOWN OF FREEPORT 30 MAIN STREET FREEPORT 04032 Mike Pottle 08/14/2012 M13058 HHW Facility Town of Gray 13 Seagull Drive Gray 04039 Randy

Cookson 207-657-2343

01/23/2015 M13677

HHW Facility Greenbush HHW 132 Military Road Greenbush 04418 Robert Littlefield

M13227

HHW Facility Town of Jackman 369 Main St PO Box 269

Jackman 04945 Eve Marin 207-668-7889

M13633

HHW Facility Town of Kennebunk 36 Sea Road KENNEBUNK 04043 Kris Fogg M13065



Page | 98

HHW Facility Mechanic Falls HHW 424 River Rd Lewiston 04240 John Hawley M13231 HHW Facility LIMERICK TRANSFER STATION 55 WASHINGTON ST LIMERICK 04048 ANN PISTELL 207 287-

7703 11/16/2015 M13255

HHW Facility TOWN OF MILFORD 62 Davenport St. PO Box 336

MILFORD 04461 Chris Everett M13241

HHW Facility Minot HHW 329 Woodman Hill Road Minot 04258 Angeliec Gouldin

M13257

HHW Facility Monmouth Transfer Station 75 Academy Road Monmouth 04259 Bruce Balfour 207-933-2650

02/03/2015 M13258

HHW Facility Montville HHW 414 Center Road Montville 04941 Hannah Hatfield

M13249

HHW Facility Town of Nobleboro 25 Transfer Station Drive Nobleboro 04555 Todd Musial M13256 HHW Facility RIVERSIDE RECYCLING 910 RIVERSIDE STREET PORTLAND 04103 Troy Moon 207-797-

6200 12/16/2014 M13061

HHW Facility Presque Isle HHW 12 Second Street Presque Isle 04769 Dana Fowler M13235 HHW Facility Town of Rangeley 15 School Street Rangeley 04970 Richard Brown M13234 HHW Facility Town of Rockland 270 Pleasant Street Rockland 04841 David St.

Lauren M13237

HHW Facility Mid-Coast Solid Waste Corp. PO BOX 1016 Rockport 04856 08/27/2015 M13642 HHW Facility Searsmont HHW P.O. Box 56 37 Main

Street South Searsmont 04973 Stacy

Benjamin M13248

HHW Facility TOWN OF CHINA 571 LAKEVIEW DRIVE SOUTH CHINA 04358 01/14/2016 M13242 HHW Facility Stockton Springs HHW 194 Cape Jellison Road Stockton

Springs 04981 George

Russell M13243

HHW Facility Town of Thomaston Transfer Station 34 Buttermilk Dr Thomaston 04861 M13240 HHW Facility Town of Turner Recycling Station 11 Turner Center Road TURNER 04282 12/08/2014 M13225 HHW Facility Tri-County Solid Waste Management

Organization 3368 Heald Highway Union 04862 Jim Guerra M13228

HHW Facility Waldoboro 863 N. Nobleboro Road Waldoboro 04572 Richard Moran M13250 HHW Facility TOWN OF WEST GARDINER 318 SPEARS CORNER RD WEST

GARDINER 04345 M13236

HHW Facility Town of Wilton 211 Munson Road Wilton 04294 Hollis Tyler 207-491-6661

M13577



Page | 99

HHW Facility Town of Yarmouth 659 East Main Street Yarmouth 04096 Mike Darling 207-846-2417

08/27/2015 M13603

Retailers Lapointe Lumber 2385 North Belfast Avenue

Augusta 04330 Dick Tarr M13544

Retailers Aubuchon Hardware 10 Bangor Street Augusta 04330 Rodney McKenna, Jr

207-623-9844

05/20/2015 M13551

Retailers PARADIS TRUE VALUE 31 HOLLAND AVE. BAR HARBOR 04609 207-288-4995

10/07/2015 M13672

Retailers ROGERS ACE HARDWARE 55 CONGRESS AVE. #1 BATH 04530 Lori 207-443-6089

02/09/2016 M13554

Retailers Aubuchon Hardware #171 231 Northport Avenue #171

Belfast 04915 Greg Hodgeman

207-338-1334

10/12/2015 M16718

Retailers DUPUIS HARDWARE 2 SPRUCE STREET BIDDEFORD 04005 207-284-8702

02/19/2016 M13634

Retailers W. E. Aubuchon Company, Inc. 484 Wilson Street Brewer 04412 207-989-5669

11/23/2015 M13681

Retailers Hancock Lumber 158 Church Street Brunswick 04011 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

M13670

Retailers PLUMMER'S HARDWARE 241 PACKER FARM ROAD BUXTON 04093 207-727-3113

03/18/2016 M13601

Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE 400 NARRAGANSETT TRAIL BUXTON 04093 207-929-4256

05/21/2015 M13626

Retailers Johnson True Value Hardware 188 North Street Calais 04619 M13686 Retailers Calais Ace Homecenter 295 North Street Calais 04619 M13692 Retailers RANKIN INC 30 UNION STREET CAMDEN 04843 ANN PISTELL 207 287-

7703 05/11/2015 M13564

Retailers S.W. Collins Company 6 WASHBURN ST. CARIBOU 04736 05/13/2014 M13652 Retailers Damariscotta Hardware 423 Main Street Damariscotta 04543 Albert

Lawrence 207-563-3248

09/03/2015 M13679

Retailers DOVER TRUE VALUE 69 EAST MAIN STREET DOVER-FOXCROFT

04426 207-564-2274

05/12/2015 M13556

Retailers GOSLINE'S HARDWARE 563 MAINE AVE FARMINGDALE 04344 Tom Bolster 207-582-1900

01/18/2016 M13592

Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE 361 WILTON RD FARMINGTON 04938 207-778-5682

05/22/2015 M13558



Page | 100

Retailers LAPOINTE LUMBER 22 PUSHARD LN. GARDINER 04345 207-942-7361

07/31/2015 M10787

Retailers S.W. COLLINS COMPANY 57 BANGOR STREET, PO BOX 96

HOULTON 04730 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

05/11/2015 M13638

Retailers DRILLEN TRUE VALUE 1086 Sabattus Street Lewiston 04240 Shawn Drillen 207-783-4600

11/02/2015 M13549

Retailers Aubuchon Hardware 245 W. Broadway Lincoln 04457 Ed Comeau 207-794-6023

M13567

Retailers S.W. Collins Company 302 West Broadway Lincoln 04457 Chris Putman M13621 Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE #097 572 LISBON STREET LISBON FALLS 04252 ANN PISTELL 207 287-

7703 06/19/2015 M13584

Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE 499 ROOSEVELT TRAIL NAPLES 04055 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

04/11/2012 M13629

Retailers LOUIS DOE INC. 92 MILLS RD. NEWCASTLE 04553 02/28/2012 M13546 Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE 80 MOOSEHEAD TRAIL NEWPORT 04953 Peter Biron 207-368-

5226 06/09/2015 M13545

Retailers Aubuchon Hardware #016 138 Main Street Norway 04268 Roger LaCroix 207-743-5072

M16721

Retailers Blakes Hardware 46 Maine St Oakland 04963 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

M13574

Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE 486 STILLWATER AVE. OLD TOWN 04408 207-827-7972

06/09/2015 M13685

Retailers MAINE ACE HARDWARE 274 SAINT JOHN ST. PORTLAND 04102 207-773-5604

07/17/2015 M13658

Retailers ECOMAINE 64 BLUEBERRY ROAD PORTLAND 04102 MARK MARITATO

207-773-1738

12/31/2015 M17369

Retailers W.E. Aubuchon Company, Inc. 832 Stevens Avenue Portland 04103 Gary Whitmore

207-871-0383

05/15/2015 M16722

Retailers S. W. COLLINS CO 21 RICE STREET PRESQUE ISLE 04769 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

11/18/2015 M13643

Retailers Rangeley Plantation 293 S. Shore Drive Rangeley 04970 Elizabeth Swiney

M13611

Retailers K & G Hardware 65 Main Street Richmond 04357 Jim M13644 Retailers E.L. Spear Inc. 10 Payne Avenue Rockland 04841 M13740



Page | 101

Retailers W.E. Aubuchon Company, Inc. 65 Falmouth Street Rumford 04276 Sharon 05/20/2015 M13673 Retailers WILBUR G. SHAW HARDWARE 901 MAINE STREET SANFORD 04073 Richard R.

Cote 207-324-2714

11/12/2015 M13548

Retailers OAKHILL HARDWARE 29 GORHAM RD PO BOX 670

SCARBOROUGH 04074 207-883-5058

02/15/2016 M13570

Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE 9 Commercial St Skowhegan 04976 Michael Pelletier

207-474-9489

12/16/2013 M13580

Retailers DRILLEN TRUE VALUE 460 COTTAGE ROAD SOUTH PORTLAND

04106 04/01/2014 M13623

Retailers Shopper's Hardware 50 Market Street South Portland 04106 Mike Simpson 207-799-6191

05/15/2015 M13583

Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE #095 640 Main Street Springvale 04083 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

04/09/2012 M13606

Retailers STANDISH HARDWARE 5 OAK HILL ROAD, PO BOX 135

STANDISH 04084 Christopher Langlois

207-642-2771

02/10/2016 M14708

Retailers TOWNHOUSE SUPPLY DIV OF ANCO INC HOULE'S PLB/HTG

19 NORTH STREET WATERVILLE 04901 NO NAME GIVEN

201-872-6762

04/05/2014 M11754

Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE 485 KENNEDY MEMORIAL DRIVE

WATERVILLE 04901 Greg LaPointe 207-873-3800

01/28/2016 M11859

Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE 1165 POST ROAD WELLS 04090 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

02/04/2016 M13547

Retailers SPORTSMAN'S TRUE VALUE HARDWARE 30 CENTRAL STREET WESTBROOK 04092 207-854-5868

12/04/2014 M13630

Retailers AUBUCHON HARDWARE 777 ROOSEVELT TRAIL WINDHAM 04062 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

05/20/2015 M13559

Retailers AMES SUPPLY TRUE VALUE 447 BATH RD. WISCASSET 04578 207-882-7710

12/31/2015 M13555

Retailers COASTAL HARDWARE INC. 914 ROUTE 1 YARMOUTH 04096 Bill Chandler 207-846-3861

05/08/2015 M13576

Wholesalers Custom Climate Control 238 Shaker Hill Rd P.O. BOX 723

Alfred 04002 Jeff Langlois 207-490-0044

M11818

Wholesalers Selco 61 Mill St Auburn 04210 Jeff 207-783-6927

M11846

Wholesalers The Granite Group 660 Minot Avenue Auburn 04210 Jeremy Hebert

207-514-1280

M18374



Page | 102

Wholesalers BELL/SIMONS CO 358 WASHINGTON ST NORTH

AUBURN 04210 Paul Labonte 207-786-0381

02/01/2016 M19637

Wholesalers BELL/SIMONS CO 62 ACADEMY STREET AUBURN 04210 Greg Bubier 207-786-0129

02/03/2016 M11832

Wholesalers F.W. WEBB CO. 138 LEIGHTON ROAD AUGUSTA 04330 Ben Clark 207-623-2521

03/17/2016 M10817

Wholesalers REDLON & JOHNSON 314 STATE STREET AUGUSTA 04330 Doug Stevens 207-623-4517

01/19/2016 M11845

Wholesalers Rockingham Electrical Supply 7 Mt. Vernon Ave Augusta 04330 Alicia Villnave 207-622-7541

10/28/2014 M18544

Wholesalers REDLON & JOHNSON 162 TARGET CIRCLE BANGOR 04401 207-947-3301

09/14/2015 M13651

Wholesalers JOHNSTONE SUPPLY CO 195 THATCHER STREET BANGOR 04401 ANN PISTELL 207 287-7703

08/27/2015 M13586

Wholesalers WEBBER SUPPLY INC. 32 Thatcher Street Bangor 04401 Tim Smart 207-942-7361

08/12/2015 M11828

Wholesalers BELL/SIMONS CO 470 ODLIN ROAD BANGOR 04401 Robert Caso 207-947-3810

12/28/2015 M11899

Wholesalers F.W. WEBB CO. 67 TARGET INDUSTRIAL CIRCLE

BANGOR 04401 TIM LARGAY 207-947-6905

09/03/2015 M13650

Wholesalers BANGOR PIPE SUPPLY INC 69 FARM ROAD BANGOR 04401 GRAYSON WENTWORTH

207-942-1200

10/05/2015 M11749

Wholesalers REDLON & JOHNSON 9 Redlon Road,PO Box 730

Bath 04530 Ken Palmer 207-443-5592

10/08/2014 M11871

Wholesalers F.W. WEBB CO. 22 Landry Street Biddeford 04005 Dick McIntyre 207-282-7558

02/09/2016 M11813

Wholesalers Coastal Winair Division 27 Morin St Biddeford 04005 Andy Holmes 207-284-2406

03/16/2015 M11797

Wholesalers BELL/SIMONS CO 29 Landry Street Biddeford 04005 Norman Baron 207-284-5975

03/20/2015 M11811

Wholesalers Clark & Co Brewer (Bell/Simons Co) 212 WILSON ST. BREWER 04412 Mark Spaulding

207-989-4539

03/04/2016 M11820

Wholesalers Sid Harvey Industries 45 ACME ROAD Brewer 04412 John Killinger 207-989-7285

06/09/2015 M11751

Wholesalers F.W. WEBB CO. 420 Main Street CARIBOU 04736 Dick Violette 207-498-2526

11/26/2014 M11812



Page | 103

Wholesalers Bangor Pipe and Supply 55 FOSTER STREET ELLSWORTH 04605 R NEWMAN 207-667-5346

06/06/2013 M11827

Wholesalers F.W. WEBB CO. 9 BUTTERMILK ROAD ELLSWORTH 04605 Adam Foster 207-667-9322

02/01/2016 M13224

Wholesalers Homans Associates 68 Carey Circle Hampden 04444 Steve Phillips 207-945-6405

06/12/2015 M11894

Wholesalers MEMCO 102 Main Street Jay 04239 207-897-4100

06/27/2013 M13221

Wholesalers Redlon & Johnson 3 Middle Street Lewiston 04243 207-784-5721

10/06/2015 M12648

Wholesalers F.W. WEBB CO. 9 FORRESTAL STREET LEWISTON 04240 Chris Bennett 207-784-4575

03/01/2016 M11056

Wholesalers Graybar Electric Company Inc. 29 W. Commercal St Portland 04101 207-773-1766

M11829

Wholesalers Rockingham Electrical Supply 35 Diamond Street PORTLAND 04101 Jim Hiltonsmith

207-772-4614

M11821

Wholesalers GRAINGER 425 WARREN AVE PORTLAND 04103 207-797-7693

M11800

Wholesalers Homans Associates 111C Pine Tree Industrial Parkway

PORTLAND 04103 Chuck Torrey 02/01/2016 M11879

Wholesalers The Granite Group 147-151 ST. JOHN STREET PORTLAND 04102 Willy Hamm 207-871-1441

12/15/2014 M11822

Wholesalers SID HARVEY INDUSTRIES 160 SAINT JOHN STREET PORTLAND 04102 Joe Willing 207-775-2735

10/26/2015 M13056

Wholesalers REDLON & JOHNSON 172-174 St. John Street PORTLAND 04102 LOU HARTHAN 207-773-4755

01/11/2013 M11826

Wholesalers NORTHERN BURNER SUPPLY CO. INC. 185 WASHINGTON AVE. PORTLAND 04101 Jeffrey Lothrop

207-773-6541

03/15/2016 M11228

Wholesalers Webber Supply Inc. 212 Canco Road Portland 04103 Art Libby 207-767-0201

12/12/2014 M10786

Wholesalers WESCO/Standard Electric Company 327 Marginal Way Portland 04101 Susan Landon 207-774-2614

09/12/2014 M11840

Wholesalers BELL/SIMONS CO 373 Riverside Industrial Pkwy

PORTLAND 04103 Ray Gilliam 207-797-8152

06/10/2015 M11878

Wholesalers Johnstone Supply Company 90 Blueberry Road Portland 04102 Joe Willing 207-321-2224

12/15/2014 M11836



Page | 104

Wholesalers SID HARVEY INDUSTRIES 77 INDUSTRIAL STREET PRESQUE ISLE 04769 Howard Hitchcock

207-764-8601

10/06/2015 M11896

Wholesalers REDLON & JOHNSON 79 INDUSTRIAL STREET Presque Isle 04769 207-764-1944

07/09/2015 M11790

Wholesalers F.W. WEBB CO. 22 Merrill Drive ROCKLAND 04841 John Glover 207-594-6200

01/29/2016 M10506

Wholesalers The Portland Group 91 Industrial Park Drive Saco 04072 Jeff Golojuch 207-283-8787

M19065

Wholesalers BELL/SIMONS CO 103 RIVER ST. SANFORD 04073 Rob Wanik 207-284-5975

07/20/2015 M11814

Wholesalers P & E Enterprises 1540 Main St SANFORD 04073 Brian Roberts 207-324-6239

02/11/2016 M11794

Wholesalers F.W. WEBB 150 POSTAL SERVICE WAY SOUTH PORTLAND

04106 207-772-8364

10/14/2015 M11796

Wholesalers Portland Winnelson 177 Cash Street South Portland 04106 Lisa Grant 207-773-9466

01/18/2016 M18989

Wholesalers Bell / Simons Co 56 Airport Rd WATERVILLE 04901 Rick Breton 207-873-1107

05/19/2015 M11864

Wholesalers F.W. Webb 6 Bull Rock Bridge Road West Bath 04530 207-442-7990

12/14/2015 M18092

Wholesalers UNITED REFRIGERATION # 45 20 Thomas Drive Westbrook 04092 Rick Thibeault 207-772-2844

M11802

Wholesalers DISTRIBUTOR CORPORATION 4 THOMAS DRIVE, UNIT 1 WESTBROOK 04092 Chris Hoskeer 207-828-4431

10/29/2013 M11807

Wholesalers Trane Co. 860 Spring Street, Unit 1 Westbrook 04092 207-828-1555

10/07/2015 M11898

Wholesalers Redlon & Johnson 5 Sposedo Road Windham 04062 207-892-0290

M13659

Wholesalers F.W. Webb 3 Danielle Drive Windham 04062 Charlie Haskell

207-892-5504

03/11/2016 M13610

Wholesalers F.W. WEBB CO. 46 HEYWOOD ROAD WINSLOW 04901 Jeff Peters 207-872-5522

01/16/2013 M11861

Wholesalers Winslow Supply 567 Benton Avenue Winslow 04901 05/18/2015 M11868

National Electrical Manufacturers Association 1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900

Rosslyn, VA 22209 703-841-3249

Fax: 703-841-3349 [email protected]

DATE: February 16, 2016

TO: Mark Bergeron, Director Bureau of Land Resources Maine Department of Environmental Protection

FROM: The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

RE: NEMA Comments on Maine DEP Report, “Implementing Product Stewardship in Maine,” dated January 2016

____________________________________________________________________________

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is the primary trade association representing the interests of the US electrical products industry. Our nearly 400 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission, distribution, control, and end-use of electricity, constituting the very foundation of the worldwide infrastructure for supplying power.

Most electro-industry products are long lived and used in commercial and industrial settings. Some, however - such as household lamps, batteries, and thermostats - are consumer oriented and sold primarily for residential applications. Several of these have been the focus of product stewardship laws in Maine and our members have a long history of working with Maine legislators and regulatory authorities on the development of these laws and the programs they authorize.

Once again, NEMA appreciates the opportunity to comment on the latest version of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) report on “Implementing Product Stewardship in Maine.” We look forward to continuing discussions with DEP staff on how best to maintain the success of our stewardship programs going forward. Our comments on the report are presented below.

Section II - Mercury Auto Switches

In Section II.B of the report addressing the mercury auto switch program operated through ELVS, DEP notes that “The number of mercury switches available for recycling continues to decline as they have not been placed in vehicles since model year 2003.” This observation presumably is offered to explain why collection of mercury auto switches declined in 2015.

NEMA reminds the department that mercury switch thermostats have not been sold or installed legally in Maine since 2006. Moreover, many were replaced long before that date with non-mercury units because electronic programmable thermostats had become available years earlier. Yet we see no mention of this fact in the discussion of the industry-funded thermostat collection program. We urge the DEP to incorporate this consideration into its assessment of

APPENDIX 18: NEMA COMMENTS ON MAINE DEP REPORT

Maine Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources February 2016

2

how many mercury thermostats remain in place and enter the waste stream annually. It is as relevant for thermostats as it is for mercury auto switches.

In addition, the report states that (auto) “Manufacturers have allocated funding for recycling auto switches from Maine that is anticipated to fund operations through the year 2022.” This appears to be a “sunset date” for the auto switch program in Maine – or at least the date beyond which manufacturers are no longer obligated to provide financial support. NEMA believes the thermostat recycling program warrants a similar end-date analysis. By way of precedent, the thermostat recycling law enacted in 2014 in Massachusetts (Section 6J1/2 of Chapter 21H, General Laws of the Commonwealth) contains a provision that repeals the obligation on manufacturers on December 31, 2022. NEMA looks forward to exploring this concept with the department. Section IV - Discussion and recommendations related to the mercury thermostat program Recommendation 1 NEMA appreciates the DEP’s assessment of the procedures that govern the TRC’s statutorily required financial incentive program in Maine. The department’s recommended change to these procedures ostensibly aims to reduce the paperwork burden that contractors face when claiming the incentive and thus encourage them to recycle multiple thermostats at one time. NEMA conferred with TRC staff and offers the following comments on this recommendation.

Since 2011, participants in the TRC have submitted an average of 8 coupons apiece over the full period of their participation. The majority of coupons submitted (70%) have been for one thermostat only. While it is conceivable that reducing the amount of paperwork would make it easier to submit multiple units and thus encourage that behavior, the reality is that most contractors replace and purchase one thermostat at time and tend to maintain as little inventory as possible. The standard operating procedure, in other words, is not to stockpile thermostats and other equipment from multiple job sites but to handle each job in turn. Moreover, with far fewer mercury thermostats remaining in operation the opportunity for contractors to submit and claim the incentive for multiple units will become less available.

Switching from the current 3-part paper coupon to the “invoice form” used by retail outlets would likely not result in faster payments to contractors. The most frequent cause of delayed payments continues to stem from wholesalers’ tendency to maintain collection bins for long periods of time rather than sending them in for processing. Switching to a “lightweight plastic bag” containing the thermostat and invoice may speed up the process once the bin is returned because TRC will no longer need to wait for a coupon to match to the sticker on the thermostat before issuing the incentive. But the impact will be limited without increased cooperation from wholesalers.

Adopting the DEP’s recommendation probably would reduce TRC’s administrative costs if it induces more contractors to submit multiple thermostats rather than one at a time. As noted above, however, this is not a likely outcome. The material cost of the new system would consist of an initial expense of approximately $6,000 to create and print the ‘invoice form’ as well as a recurring cost of $4,450 for each new order, including the lightweight plastic bags. By comparison, each new order of 30,000, three-part coupons



3

currently in use costs just over $1,000. Thus the new system will result in a moderate increase of TRC’s operating expense for the Maine incentive program.

The most challenging aspect of amending the incentive payment procedure is educating and achieving “buy-in” to the new system among wholesalers. TRC would need to send the new materials by mail and follow up by phone with every location to ensure that management understands the new procedure and replaces the old forms. NEMA anticipates that DEP would support and assist TRC staff in this endeavor.

NEMA notes that the “completion rate” of incentive payment for the return of eligible thermostats in Maine has been 92% since the beginning of 2011. Thus only 8% have not been paid for reasons such as missing labels, no receipt of coupon, or bins not being returned. Payments can also be delayed due to a range of factors, but some of the most prevalent would not be resolved by the new system (e.g., illegible or incompletely filled-out coupons).

In summary, adopting this recommended change will lead to moderately higher operational costs of TRC’s financial incentive program in Maine. It may also induce behavioral changes, but only through coordinated follow-up efforts by TRC and the DEP to bring wholesalers on board and promote the new procedures. NEMA encourages the department to confer with TRC staff about the issues cited above and develop a joint plan of action. Recommendation 2 NEMA concurs with the premise underlying Recommendation 2 – specifically that “caution should be exercised in application of (the SERA Report’s) projections of the number of thermostats available for recycling to measure program performance or set recycling goals.” The volume of thermostats the study projects will enter the waste stream in future years in Maine is vastly inconsistent with TRC’s experience and observations. Not only has this report not been subject to peer review, but expert assessments of the SERA methodology in other states have been extremely critical.

We also agree that additional peer-reviewed data could help to inform more soundly based performance standards. Simply setting goals, however, whether enforceable or aspirational, does nothing to address the factor that truly drives collections, which is continued active engagement of all parties in the program. The report observes that “Other states with mercury thermostat laws have implemented various enforceable goals as a strategy to increase collections,” but fails to note that this strategy has been ineffective. The existence of statutory goals does not correlate with program performance across states. The best approach for growing thermostat collections continues to be shared responsibility, aided and abetted by a strong working relationship between state authorities and the TRC. Recommendation 3 NEMA agrees that the state should retain its disposal ban on mercury thermostats. Please contact us at your convenience if you have questions or concerns about these comments. Contact



4

Mark Kohorst Senior Manager, Environment, Health & Safety NEMA 1300 N. 17th Street Suite 900 Rosslyn, VA 22209 703-841-3249 703-841-3349 (Fax) [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

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