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Bill to repeal Montana’s Mercury‑Added Thermostat Collection Act wins DEQ support
Summary
Rep. Becky Edwards introduced HB 26 to repeal the Mercury‑Added Thermostat Collection Act, arguing national programs and market changes have made the law unnecessary; DEQ testified in support, saying state and federal hazardous‑waste rules still govern mercury disposal.
Representative Becky Edwards, a freshman legislator, opened the hearing on House Bill 26, which would repeal the Mercury‑Added Thermostat Collection Act. Edwards said the federal effort and state experience have reduced the presence of mercury‑added thermostats in commerce and that a national take‑back program and federal rules have accomplished the statute’s goals.
Amy Steinmetz, Waste Management and Remediation Division Administrator at the Department of Environmental Quality, testified in support of HB 26. Steinmetz told the committee that thermostat manufacturers launched a voluntary national take‑back program (the Thermostat Recycling Corporation) in 1998 and Montana participated as early as 2004. DEQ cited reported collection of 29.4 pounds of mercury from thermostats in Montana between 2004 and 2017 and said the program fell below reporting thresholds after 2017. Steinmetz emphasized that repealing the state statute is a regulatory‑reform cleanup and that existing hazardous‑waste regulations governing mercury management would remain in effect if the statute is repealed.
No proponents or opponents testified in person or online beyond the sponsor and DEQ. Committee members asked DEQ about the number of thermostats still in circulation and the locations of collection points; DEQ said it had no estimate for remaining thermostats and that the Thermostat Recycling Corporation maintains a list of collection bins (some located at hardware stores) available statewide.
Representative Edwards closed by framing HB 26 as a straightforward cleanup bill and asked the committee for a do‑pass recommendation.
