FAQ

Collection pails for fully intact mercury-containing and electronic/digital thermostats are returned using the Purolator pre-paid return waybill (at no cost to program participants) and delivered to the processing facility located in Ontario. The thermostats are sorted and dismantled, and collections from each individual pail are tracked by brand-holder in a monthly collections report sent to HRAI. The metals have a high reuse/recycling value and are sent for recycling within Canada. The glass mercury vessels are consolidated with others from Canada and shipped to Bethlehem Apparatus located in PA, USA where the glass and mercury are separated. The glass is crushed and sent to landfill due to quality impurities and low market value and demand. The mercury undergoes a stabilizing treatment process converting elemental mercury to mercury sulphide, rendering it safe for disposal in specially engineered landfills. Once the mercury is processed by Bethlehem Apparatus, it is shipped back to Canada for disposal at Stablex located in Quebec. The mercury recovered from thermostats and other manufactured products are no longer processed for reuse in new product manufacturing due to environmental concerns. Batteries are sent to Port Colbourne, ON for recycling. The plastic components are deemed ‘e-waste plastics’ and are sent to landfill for disposal because of the ban on imported global waste plastics overseas.

The TRP is funded by the manufacturers and distributors that sell and/or import or have historically sold and/or imported mercury-containing thermostats into Canada.

Even better! New programmable thermostats provide you the opportunity to have more control over the temperature of your home and the timing of your air-regulation system. You can save money on your utility bills by limiting air-conditioning and heating use while away from home.

To determine if your thermostat contains mercury, please refer to our Consumer Tip on RESPONSIBLE Thermostat Recycling

The TRP serves as a Producer Responsibility Organization, administering this stewardship program across Canada on behalf of thermostat manufacturers subject to extended producer responsibility regulations in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario.

In addition, the TRP is registered with Ontario's Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (RPRA), Registration # 00009119, offering services for thermostats only (both electronic and mercury-containing).

The TRP operates Canada-wide and is always expanding. To find participating collection sites near you, use our Public Drop-Off Location Lookup Tool or contact the TRP team.

You can fill out our short Registration Form to join the program. You will receive confirmation of your registration from our TRP Coordinator.

Upon registering, HRAI will send you a collection pail and a pre-paid return Purolator waybill within two weeks.

There is no cost to participate in the TRP either as a collection site, regardless of type (contractor, wholesaler, municipal depot, recycling centre, consumer).

Upon registering, HRAI will send you a collection pail and a pre-paid return Purolator waybill within two weeks.

Please refer to the TRP's Collection Guidelines for a list of accepted and not accepted items.

Item in question not listed? Please contact the TRP team.

Each pail is sent with a pre-paid Purolator waybill. With this return waybill, all you have to do is call Purolator at 1-888-744-7123 to have the pail picked up at your location at a time and day that is convenient for you!

Once it arrives at the recycling facility, you will automatically receive a replacement pail and waybill at your location within a 2-3 week turnaround period.

Please contact the TRP team for a replacement waybill via email, eligible for same-day shipping only!

To request any additional materials, please contact the TRP team.

Upon registering, all participants receive program materials to start collecting thermostats. Replacement pails and waybills are only issued when a participant has returned their collection pail(s) of thermostats to the program's recycling facility in Ontario via Purolator.

At the beginning of each month, HRAI receives a collection report from the TRP's recycling facility and automatically sends replacement materials to participants who have returned their pail(s) during the previous month.

Need a pail sooner? Please contact the TRP team.