Thermostat Recycling Corporation’s Executive Director Mark Tibbetts recently recognized three HVACR distributors for their efforts to promote TRC’s program and help reduce mercury pollution.

The Mercury Thermostat Recycling Awards program recognizes the contribution of HARDI Wholesale Distributors who demonstrate a commitment to the environment by promoting thermostat recycling and helping keep mercury out of the waste stream. This year’s winners helped divert more than 57 pounds of mercury from solid waste through their collection efforts, Tibbetts said in his statement.

The companies recognized were:

Baker Distributing Company in Jacksonville, Florida, was recognized with the Mercury Thermostat Promoter Award for collecting mercury thermostats at over 220 locations nation-wide. Baker implemented a campaign that targeted both employees and customers.  Baker Distributing reached external audiences via a number of channels including its monthly newsletter and statements, TRC promotional materials in all Baker locations and a TRC banner ad on its homepage www.Bakerdist.com.  Baker also educated its employees about the program through its quarterly sustainability newsletter and monthly employee newsletter.

Johnson Supply in Houston, Texas, was recognized with the Mercury Thermostat Promoter Award for collecting mercury thermostats at its 23 locations throughout Texas and Louisiana. Each Johnson Supply location has the recycling container in a visible location, all its employees are very familiar with the program, and they work to educate Johnson Supply customers on the importance and impact of the TRC program.  Among other promotional activities Johnson Supply added a tag line to each invoice stating its thermostat recycling efforts, and in August 2011 promoted the program through a $1.00 credit on their Johnson Supply Tool Card for each thermostat returned.  Johnson Supply also included a full color print advertisement in its summer catalog, seen by thousands of its customers.

US Airconditioning Distributors was recongized with both the Mercury Thermostat Recycling Heavyweight Award & Pound-for-Pound Award for collecting mercury thermostats at its 43 locations in the western United States and Florida. The company has actively promoted the recycling of mercury thermostats and its customers have embraced the program. During the summer months US Airconditioning Distributor locations shipped TRC over 2,100 waste mercury thermostats keeping 29 pounds of mercury out of solid waste.  Amazingly, over half of the thermostats came from the City of Industry location yielding 17 pounds of mercury.  As such, US Airconditioning Distributors is recognized not only for its total contributions to the program, but also for the efforts of its City of Industry location.