CLEANING UP: TAKING MERCURY-FREE CHLORINE PRODUCTION TO THE BANK
Plant Summaries:
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Oceana has published the most extensive report to date focusing on the conversion of mercury-cell chlorine factories to more environmentally and economically sound mercury-free technology. The report shows that shifting has major economic benefits to the companies. Download the Executive Summary or the full report below:
Key Findings
- Both the ERCO plant in Wisconsin and the Olin plant in Tennessee are the number one mercury air polluters in their states, while Olin in Georgia and Ashta in Ohio are the third largest source of mercury air pollution in their respective states. PPG in West Virginia emits nearly twice as much mercury as the average power plant.
- If the five plants eliminated mercury use in chlorine production, nearly 4,400 pounds of reported mercury emissions could be eliminated each year. This does not include mercury that is "lost" and not monitored at the plant, an amount estimated to rival releases from power plants in certain years.
- Although the cost of converting to mercury-free technology runs in the millions of dollars (as detailed in the report), analysis shows the majority of costs would be recovered within five years from energy savings, increased capacity and eliminating millions of dollars in mercury-related fines, upgrades and treatment costs.
- Plants that have shifted see increases in energy efficiency between 25 and 37 percent. Since electricity can make up half of total production costs, this can vastly improve profitability.
- Many plants also have increased production capacity by approximately 25 percent in the process of converting to mercury-free technology.
- Some of the Filthy Five have argued that mercury use is necessary to create high quality caustic soda which is required for some manufacturing processes like producing rayon, a human-made fiber. However, mercury-free technology is now being used to create high quality caustic soda and is being used to produce rayon in India. Additionally, rayon is no longer manufactured in the United States.
- Download factsheets on Ashta, Olin Augusta, Olin Charleston, ERCO, PPG and the health effects of mercury.
Chlorine Factories: Still Major Sources of Mercury Pollution
Mercury has been used in chlorine and caustic soda production for more than one-hundred years. Technology that eliminates the need to use mercury in chlor-alkali production has been readily available for just as long. Yet, in the United States, five chlor-alkali plants have still not committed to stop using the outdated mercury-cell technology to produce their products. In 2005, these five plants reported emissions of more than 4,400 pounds of mercury into the air. On average, these plants release more than four times the average amount of mercury released from a typical power plant; earning them the title "The Filthy Five."
Mercury-Free Technology is Readily Available
Mercury-free technology has been readily available and in use around the world for decades. Already, 90 percent of the chlorine produced in the United States is made using mercury-free technology. Many plants were constructed using either diaphragm or membrane-cell technology. However, many others were built to use mercury. Of those, more than one-hundred mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants already have switched or plan to switch to mercury-free technology around the globe. This analysis has identified 115 such facilities, making it the most comprehensive compilation of this information to date. However, some plants undoubtedly have been converted that were not identified in this analysis.
Take Action!
Even though switching to mercury-free technology is good for the bottom line, the Filthy Five are still refusing to leave 19th century technology behind. Oceana's local organizers and e-activists will help show these companies that it is time to become responsible corporate citizens.
Get involved!
