HARDI members collected and recycled almost 371 pounds of mercury in the 2017 Big Man on Planet contest.

Officials with Thermostat Recycling Corp. said 102 Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International members took part in the competition, recovering 370.946 pounds of mercury from used thermostats placed in collection bins May 1 to Oct. 31, 2017.

The top winners for most mercury recycled and highest participation rate was Johnstone Supply; and Tower Equipment Co. Inc. had the highest average amount. Both were recognized Dec. 3, 2017, during HARDI’s annual conference in Las Vegas.

“The HARDI membership commitment to recycling mercury in an environmentally safe manner is a testament to their concern for the environment and their commitment to high safety standards in the industry,” said Ryan Kiscaden, executive director of TRC. “Their participation is a front-line effort at keeping mercury out of the environmental stream.”