Mercury Green Tier Charter for Environmental Performance
Green Tier - Charter

Under the Mercury Green Tier Charter for Environmental Performance municipalities are reducing mercury discharges into their wastewater treatment plants before they have a regulatory requirement to do so. In exchange the municipalities are offered certainty that mercury reduction activities conducted now will satisfy mercury reduction obligations that might apply at a future date. Municipalities participating in the charter reduce mercury releases to Wisconsin's environment earlier and more efficiently than would have occurred by regulation alone. It is anticipated that most municipalities participating in the Charter will be mid-sized communities with wastewater treatment plant flows between one and five million gallons per day. Fifteen municipalities signed the charter during the initial subscription period that ended June 30, 2008. Additional municipalities may join the charter beginning January 1, 2009.

Local mercury reduction activities are conducted in a plan-do-check-act sequence of steps consistent with an environmental management system for the pollutant mercury. Community programs encourage flexibility and innovation but will also comply with DNR guidance on municipal mercury reduction. Mercury reduction activities implemented under the Charter will decrease mercury product use, and increase mercury product recycling, by those sectors of the community that have historically used mercury-containing products: hospitals, dental offices, schools, and certain industries. Annual reports of mercury reduction progress will be provided by both the participating municipalities and by DNR.

Charter

• Charter For Superior Environmental Performance With the Municipal Environmental Group (MEG) [PDF 77KB] Posted February 28, 2008

Public Notices/Press Releases

• New Green Tier Charter Encourages Mercury Reduction Efforts by Municipalities [PDF 22KB] Posted February 28, 2008

Photos taken during the Green Tier Signing
February 28, 2008

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Charter Participants

Video

• Mercury Vapor Video [Exit DNR]

Archived Material

• Draft Charter For Superior Environmental Performance With the Municipal Environmental Group (MEG) [PDF 37KB] Posted January 10, 2008
• Public Notice on a Proposed Green Tier Charter and a Public Hearing [PDF 13KB] Posted January 10, 2008
• Mercury Charter - Response to Public Comments [PDF 16KB]