Recycle thermostats

What can I recycle?

• Mercury-containing thermostats
• Electronic thermostats

Please return the whole thermostat intact, including the faceplate. Thermostat manufacturers who fund the program are billed based on the brands collected.

Why should I recycle?

By recycling your used thermostats, you divert hazardous waste from your local landfills and help the environment. You also reduce the need for raw materials to manufacture new products.

The Thermostat Recovery Program (TRP) is a stewardship program focused on recovering and recycling mercury and electronic thermostats that are no longer in use.

The program is fully delivered by the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI). The TRP works with HVAC and plumbing contractors, wholesalers, municipalities and regional districts, as well as individual homeowners.

The TRP ensures that all the components of a thermostat, especially the mercury, are kept out of the waste stream.

Where can I recycle?

There are public drop-off locations across B.C. Free shipping is also available for rural and remote locations. Visit the HRAI website to find a location near you or ship a thermostat for recycling.

What happens to it?

In B.C., thermostats are shipped to Aevitas Inc. where they are counted, documented and dismantled. The plastic and metal components are separated and sent for recycling. Mercury vials are sent to a retort facility and either sold as a commodity or kept in long-term storage.