Maine leads N.E. in mercury cleanup

Maine leads New England in eliminating mercury pollution, according to a report released Tuesday by environmentalists.

The New England Zero Mercury Campaign, a coalition including the local Natural Resources Council of Maine and Environmental Health Strategy Center, issued its fourth annual report card on mercury elimination this week, giving Maine the region’s highest grade and the same grade as last year, a B+.

Maine was cited for new laws to collect mercury thermostats and to recycle electronic waste. The implementation of a previous law to require recycling of mercury switches in old cars and trucks also was cited as a positive for the region.

Overall, however, the study says that efforts to reduce exposure to mercury throughout the region need to increase.

“Mercury pollution still hits Maine hard,” John Hinck, toxics project director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said in a statement released Tuesday.

“We need to follow through and work to capture the mercury that is still in Maine homes, cars and workplaces,” he said.

The study gave Connecticut and Rhode Island each a B, Massachusetts a C+, Vermont a C and New Hampshire a C-. In four years, no state has ever been given an A by the New England Zero Mercury Campaign.

The full report, called The Costs of Inaction: Shortchanging the Children, is available on the Natural Resources Council of Maine Web site at www.maineenvironment.org.