NEW YORK — Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) has launched its 10th annual Banish Mercury Off the Planet competition.

The contest recognizes members of Heating Air-Conditioning Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) that collect the most mercury-containing thermostats.

“The coronavirus had an immense impact on our industry, but it was refreshing to see how our partners continued to persevere with the collection of mercury-containing thermostats,” said Danielle Myers, operations and compliance manager, TRC.  “They exemplified a commitment and can-do spirit in our cause to help create a safer environment by continuing to drop off the units collected.”

The contest officially began May 1 and concludes Oct. 31.

HARDI members need not sign up to enter the contest. All they must do is return thermostats collected through the bins that TRC places in HARDI wholesale member branches throughout the United States.

HARDI members are in every state and have collection bins where their customers — HVACR contractors — can deposit the thermostats.

The Banish Mercury Off the Planet contest, originally called the Big Man on Planet until 2018, names winners in three categories:

  • Distributor that recycles the most pounds of mercury overall
  • Distributor that recycles the highest average pounds of mercury (total pounds divided by branch count locations that submitted a collection bin)
  • Distributor with the highest participation rate (for distributors with more than 10 locations)

TRC will publicly recognize the winners of each category at HARDI’s annual conference, Dec. 4 to 7, 2021, Palm Desert, California.

Previous winners of the contest include:

  • 2020: Johnstone Supply, APCO Inc. and Allied Refrigeration
  • 2019: Johnstone Supply, Dubuque Supply and Johnson Supply
  • 2018: Johnstone Supply, Meier Supply Co., and Johnson Supply
  • 2017: Johnstone Supply, Tower Equipment, Johnson Supply
  • 2016: Johnstone Supply, Gustave Larson, Auer Steel
  • 2015: Auer Steel, Johnson Supply, US Air Conditioning Distributors, and Johnstone Supply
  • 2014: Corken Steel Products, Crescent Parts & Equipment, and Johnstone Supply
  • 2013: Johnstone Supply
  • 2012: Johnson Supply

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