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U.S. EPA honors Raytheon for reducing mercury by 46 percent

Release Date: 05/07/2009
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815

U.S. EPA honors Raytheon for reducing mercury by 46 percent

LOS ANGELES - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has honored El Segundo, Calif.-based Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems for reducing mercury through the elimination of mercury-containing equipment and future purchasing of mercury-free products.

At a private ceremony held at Raytheon’s El Segundo offices, the EPA honored Dennis Reed, Vice President of Operations for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, with the EPA’s National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) Achievement Award in recognition of Raytheon’s reduction of 8.41 lbs of mercury, which is the equivalent of the mercury in 400 household thermometers.

“By removing mercury-containing equipment, such as thermometers and blood pressure machines, and pledging to purchase mercury-free products, Raytheon has gone above and beyond environmental compliance to reduce toxic waste without affecting the bottom line,” said Steven John, Director of the EPA’s Southern California Field Office.

Raytheon is a member of the agency’s NPEP program, which encourages public and private organizations to form voluntary partnerships with EPA to reduce the use or release of any of 31 priority chemicals. The program’s goal is to work with industry and the public to reduce the use or release of four million pounds of priority chemicals by 2011.

Mercury exposure can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system. Symptoms can include weakness, chills, a metallic taste, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, tremors and visual disturbances. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, irritability and mood changes, delirium, insomnia, loss of appetite and respiratory diseases.

Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems is a leading provider of sensor systems for military purposes. Raytheon is also a member of EPA’s WasteWise and Climate Leaders programs, and initiated environmental projects with state and local agencies like the West Basin Water District for water reclamation. They are a recipient of the California Integrated Waste Management Board’s Waste Reduction Award Program.

For more information on the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities, please visit: epa.gov/npep