Did You Know…

An important factor in mercury recycling is its impact on demand for new, virgin resources mined from the earth. As companies are compelled to remove mercury from their products (or lessen the amount needed), and current supplies of mercury are properly reused, countries have begun to collect surplus supplies of elemental mercury. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), “large reserve stocks of mercury held by various governments have become superfluous, and are subject to future sales on the world market if approved by the relevant national authorities. This is the case in the USA…”

In fact, the U.S. currently holds a stockpile of four, 436 ton supplies of mercury, with supplies being such that mercury has not been mined domestically as a primary commodity since 1992. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, “the declining consumption of mercury…indicates that these [world] resources are sufficient for another century or more of use.” As replacement of mercury by other, less toxic, substances continues, demand for mercury will continue to decline.

Bibliography: What Happens Next to Mercury Products