Transcript Mercury Waste Solutions, Inc.

The Role of Private Enterprise in
the Reclamation, Recycling and
Storage of Mercury
Presented by
Brad J. Buscher, Chairman and CEO
of Mercury Waste Solutions, Inc.
Company Background
 Formed
 IPO
in 1996
in 1997
 Mercury
 Lamp
retorting
and ballast recycling
Facilities
Roseville
Albany
Union Grove
Chicago
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Atlanta
MWS Minnesota Lamp Recycling Facility
MWS Wisconsin Retorting Facility
Company Background
Union Grove Retorting Facility:

4 stationary ovens – 25 drum capacity

1 Continuous flow oven – 1,000 lbs per
hour capacity

Treat over 1,800 tons of waste annually

Recover over 80,000 lbs or 400 tons of
Hg annually
Is There a Role for Private
Enterprise?
GOOD QUESTION!
To answer that question, an explanation of
the history of the mercury recycling
industry is necessary…………………..
Regulatory Overview
1. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
1976 “RCRA”.
 Hazardous waste classification
 Comprehensive cradle to grave system for
generation, transport, storage, treatment
and disposal of hazardous waste
 Prior to RCRA, mercury recyclers’ business
model was based on resale of Hg as a
commodity
 After RCRA, business modeled evolved
toward getting paid for liability reduction
Regulatory Overview
2. Land Disposal Restriction “LDR”
Program --1984
 Disposal Prohibition – requires
treatment standards for haz waste
before it can be landfilled
 Dilution Prohibition – prevents
dilution
 Storage Prohibition – prevents
indefinite storage
Regulatory Overview
LDR Treatment Standards:
 RMERC – retorting of organic and
inorganic “high” mercury waste
 IMERC – incineration of organic
“high” mercury waste
Industry Background
Why did the mercury recycling
industry expand in the early
1990’s?
 Regulatory framework in place
 Anticipation of universal waste
rule for fluorescent lamps
 Mining industry activity
 Choral kali industry activity
Industry Background
What happened to the Mercury Recycling
Industry?
 Delay in Universal Waste Rule for
lamps
 Increased competition
 But primarily due to increased waste
shipments to Canada
What Happened?
700,000
Haz Waste Sent to Canada
(tons)
663k
600,000
540k
467k
500,000
400,000
342k
487k
383k
300,000
200,000
173k
124k
100,000
0
1992
1993
Source: Environment Canada
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
What Happened?
Retorting Prices per 55g Drum
$2,500
$2,000
$1,500
1992 Prices
2002 Prices
$1,000
$500
$0
Calcium
Phoshpate
Mercury Debris
Mercury
Devices
What Happened?
Mercury Retorting Companies
Still in Business
15
12
10
5
5
0
1998
2002
Industry Background
Why the Exodus to Canada?
 Canada (i.e. Ontario and Quebec)
allows untreated waste to be landfilled
 Canadian disposal option much
cheaper than retorting
 Inconsistencies in U.S. treatment
standards
What Happened?
Price Comparison: U.S. Retorting
vs. Canadian Landfill (per ton)
$2,000
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$0
$150
U.S. Retort
CA Landfill
Industry Background
U.S. Treatment Standards:
1. TCLP test
 If > 0.2 mg/l, run analytical for total
mercury content or send to Canada
 If < 0.2 mg/l, no treatment is required
2. Total Mercury Test
 If > 260 ppm, retorting is required
 If < 260 ppm, either retort or stabilization
prior to landfill
Industry Background
U.S. Treatment Standards continued:
3. Exclusions from these treatment standards –
the DEBRIS RULE
 If waste is classified as “debris”, material
can be still landfilled even if > 0.2 mg/l
and > 260 ppm.
 Rule was intended for construction &
demolition debris, however, Rule has broad
interpretation
Industry Background
Examples of Debris Rule Exceptions:
 Coast Guard batteries
 Nicor cleanup
 Sampling techniques
 Other examples
Back to the Question…..
Given the current regulatory and industry
environment, is there a ongoing
opportunity for Private Enterprise in
the Recycling and Reclamation of
Mercury?
Yes……but on a limited basis
Back to the Question…..
What needs to happen……
 U.S. rules need to be clear, defined and
enforced
 Enforcement needs to focus on
generators
 Canadian treatment standards need to
be raised to that of U.S. standards
Back to the Question…..
Given the current regulatory and industry
environment, is there a future
opportunity for Private Enterprise in
the Storage of Mercury?
Unlikely…………
Back to the Question…..
For the storage industry to evolve….
Clear, concise government regulations that govern
Hg Storage are needed that answer the
following questions:

Who’s waste is it?

How much Hg can be stored?

How long?

Who pays for the storage?

Facility design and construction requirements?

Permitting and insurance requirements?
Conclusions and
Questions