Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia and Covanta Fairfax Join Forces to Reduce Mercury from the Waste Stream

FAIRFAX, Va., April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- From April 16 through May 29, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia in conjunction with Covanta Fairfax Inc., the owner and operator of the I-95 Energy/Resource Recovery Facility, is offering a $5 ReStore Chantilly gift card to Fairfax County households who turn in old mercury thermostats for recycling.  The mercury bounty program is designed to encourage the proper handling and disposal of these mercury-containing devices. The gift card will be valid for use in the ReStore Chantilly warehouse during the same time period of the mercury thermostat collection.

"I applaud Habitat for Humanity and Covanta for partnering together on this important initiative and working to remove mercury from the waste stream," said Virginia Delegate Ken Plum. "Virginia took a step forward in this direction with the passage of legislation that encourages the collection of mercury-containing thermostats. Once in the waste stream, such devices may break and release mercury into the environment."

Plum passed legislation earlier this year that requires the Virginia Waste Management Board to adopt regulations to encourage the recycling of thermostats containing mercury. The bill also authorizes localities to prohibit the disposal of mercury thermostats in any privately operated landfill within its jurisdiction, so long as the locality has implemented a recycling program that is capable of handling all of the mercury thermostats within the jurisdiction.

"Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia is thrilled to work with Covanta Energy on this important initiative and we're grateful for their support to us," said Herb Campbell, Habitat ReStore District Manager.

From April 16 - May 29, the first 400 Fairfax County residents who turn in old mercury thermostats will receive the $5 gift card. Thermostats will be accepted from Fairfax County residents from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Habitat for Humanity ReStore warehouse located at 4262G Entre Court, Chantilly, VA. In addition, the first 200 residents to visit ReStore Chantilly will be given a tree seedling from Covanta Fairfax to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day.

"Covanta has taken an active role in reducing mercury from the waste stream by working with local governments and sponsoring local mercury thermostat bounty programs," said Michael Renga, Business Manager of Covanta Fairfax. "By taking advantage of this program and replacing an old mercury-based thermostat with a new non-mercury programmable one, residents can help the environment by insuring the proper disposal of mercury as well as improve the energy efficiency of their home."

For more information on how you can recycle other mercury-containing materials, please visit Fairfax County's household hazardous waste community collection events webpage at, http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/trash/disphhw.htm.

About Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Habitat for Humanity's ReStore in Chantilly is a resale business that sells new and used building materials and home improvement items to the general public. All materials are donated by local retail businesses, building contractors, suppliers and individuals, and are made available for sale to the public at 50% to 90% below retail prices.  The Chantilly warehouse is filled with hundreds of brand-new and almost-new refrigerators, dishwashers, and other appliances; top-of-the line carpet and tile; never-used cabinets, windows, and doors; and much, much more. The ReStore is a bargain-hunter's dream!  ReStore Chantilly is located 100 yards west of the intersection of Walney and Willard Road at 4262G Entre Court, Chantilly, VA 20151.  Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia also operates a ReStore in Alexandria.  It is located at 7770 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22306.  For further information on ReStore please visit the website www.restorenova.org.

About Covanta Fairfax, Inc.

Covanta Fairfax, Inc. is a subsidiary of Covanta Energy Corporation, an internationally recognized owner and operator of large-scale Energy-from-Waste and renewable energy projects and a recipient of the Energy Innovator Award from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  Covanta's 45 Energy-from-Waste facilities provide communities with an environmentally sound solution to their solid waste disposal needs by using that municipal solid waste to generate clean, renewable energy. Annually, Covanta's modern Energy-from-Waste facilities safely and securely convert approximately 20 million tons of waste into more than 9 million megawatt hours of clean renewable electricity and create over 10 billion pounds of steam that are sold to a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.covantaenergy.com.

SOURCE Covanta Energy Corporation