Environmental Health Strategy Center

PRODUCTS
Many common products contain toxic chemicals or environmentally unsound materials that release toxic chemicals during the production, use or disposal of the product. The Environmental Health Strategy Center works to minimize the hazards associated with the use and disposal of products containing mercury or PVC plastic, as well as consumer electronics. By holding manufacturers responsible for the toxic impacts of products throughout their lifecycle, tremendous incentives are provided to redesign the product with the environment in mind to be toxic free and recyclable.

Mercury Products: A Model Phase-Out Strategy
We have achieved with others commitments to phase out the sale of mercury-containing thermometers and thermostats in Maine and to ensure that other mercury products must be labeled and recycled at the end of their useful life. Automobile manufacturers are being held responsible for financing a program to recover mercury switches from old cars before they are scrapped. Mercury switches and devices are targeted next for a phase out. More efforts are needed to hold makers of mercury-containing lamps and thermostats responsible for increasing the recovery rate for these products at end of life.
Consumers guide to mercury products, recycling and alternatives >>
More information on mercury products >> and mercury waste >>

PVC: the Poison Plastic
More environmentally harmful than any other plastic, PVC or vinyl releases hazardous chemicals into the environment during its production, use and disposal. The toxic life cycle of PVC includes mercury pollution from making the raw material chlorine, two known cancer-causing substances used to produce PVC resin and a host of toxic additives that eventually escape from the product. When vinyl in burned in fires or through open burning or incineration of trash, dioxins and furans are released to the air and land as highly toxic byproducts.
Fortunately, safer materials exist for almost every use of the pervasive PVC plastic. Manufacturers and users of medical products, building materials and consumer goods are beginning to make a switch away from vinyl to these PVC-free alternatives.
More information on PVC products and safer alternatives >>

Electronics: the High Tech Toxics
Electronic computer equipment contains hundreds of hazardous materials including lead, cadmium, mercury, PVC, brominated flame retardants and more. The use of these dangerous substances in electronic gear poses environmental and occupational health hazards especially during production and disposal. The problem of electronics waste (e-waste) has mushroomed. By the year 2004, experts estimate that we will have over 315 million obsolete computers in the U.S., many of which will be destined for landfills, incinerators or hazardous waste exports. Advocates are working hard to get manufacturers to take back old computer equipment for proper recycling and to redesign their products to make them toxic-free and more recyclable.
More information on e-waste and the clean computer campaign >>