Cleaning it up and taking it to the bank

New study reveals chlorine plants could actually make money by switching to mercury-free technology

Posted by Andrew Sharpless (Guest Contributor) at 10:54 AM on 21 Jul 2007

Read more about: mercury | toxics | Barack Obama | politics | legislation

Hot off the presses are new findings that show it's actually cheaper for chlorine plants to make their product using mercury-free technology.

Oceana says so in the most extensive report to date focusing on the conversion of mercury-cell chlorine factories to more environmentally and economically sound mercury-free technology.

What's more, the findings have prompted Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to reintroduce legislation that requires chlorine and caustic soda manufacturing plants to switch to mercury-free technology by 2012.

It's good to see politicians recognizing the need for this type of legislation. Shifting not only benefits the environment and our health, it benefits the company pocketbooks, too -- and that's the bottom line.

For story: Cleaning it up and taking it to the bank
5 Comments | Post a Comment

Oh boy

When I saw that headline I thought about the lead-free bullets the army was trumpeting as a way to reduce its environmental footprint. I mean, yes, getting rid of lead is good ... but, but ...

Whatever happened to the move to get rid of chlorine entirely? Wouldn't that also get rid of the same mercury plus a lot more hazards besides?

The 5% Project

by JMG at 11:05 AM on 21 Jul 2007

killing me softly

Excellent analogy, JMG.

Actually, the mercury-content scare might result in the preservation of fish stocks, in the favor of those horribly hooked or asphyxiated sensient cousins of ours.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 11:25 AM on 22 Jul 2007

oops ...

I was caught between "sensitive" and "sentient," and wrote that barbarism. Mea culpa.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 11:26 AM on 22 Jul 2007

Game Over

A mist of mercury vapour hangs over the USA and many other places in the world. Even today. And more importantly for YOU, it has been there for your entire lifetime.

Have you had your quota... err the kids? Passed on from parent to offspring.

Y'all would destroy your brain, mental capacity, personality, attitude to life and each other
AND THE WORLD

just for a few bucks more.

I really suggest y'all acquaint yourselves with the literature on neurotoxic, genotoxic and cytotoxic mercury metal/mental poisoning.

(Oh, BTW, mercury is a bit player in the mental destruction game)

Forgive them for they know not what they play with...

The population of the world in a majority of places are toxic... and their minds and therefore their actions are toxic.

THIS IS SERIOUS.

Global Climate Change Denial (or BigOil obstructionism) is just a symptom. Violence and intolerance and ME FIRST are just symptoms of an aberrant mental state.

All your jailed prisoners are toxic to the eyeballs... their actions are very predictable, and tragic for them. And tragic for all of us.
(even more tragic for poison-free people living in a poisoned world)

Y'all are destroying my world.

A concerned scientist.

omegafour.com

by JohnCaley at 10:56 PM on 22 Jul 2007

PS

from link

>> eliminating millions of dollars in mercury-related fines >>

I almost missed this very worthwhile motive for removing atmospheric mercury emissions.

>> 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. >>

Aren't these guys just so thoughtful.

Truly I weep with despair.

omegafour.com

by JohnCaley at 11:05 PM on 22 Jul 2007

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