States have initiated a variety of assistance programs aimed at reducing mercury pollution from industrial uses (not including power generation) and products. States have also implemented outreach programs to inform the public about potential health effects due to mercury pollution. State action to reduce sources of mercury pollution is typically organized around certain sectors that are known to use products that contain mercury (sector-based approach) or on specific products that are known to contain mercury (product-based approach). Sometimes these approaches are combined.

Common sectors for mercury pollution reduction efforts include the following:

• clinics and hospitals
• dental facilities
• educational institutions and laboratories
• dairies
• plumbing and electrical contracting facilities
• manufacturing facilities
• office buildings
• households
• waste water treatment facilities
• publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs)

Common mercury pollution reduction programs with a product-focus include the following:

• educating consumers, institutions and retail stores about purchasing products that do not contain mercury
• sponsoring mercury fever thermometer exchanges
• promoting fluorescent light recycling
• expanding household hazardous waste collections to include items that contain mercury
• removing and recycling mercury switches from white goods and automobiles
• promoting public awareness of appropriate disposal and recycling options for products that contain mercury
• promoting programs for collecting and recycling mercury thermostats

These efforts can be voluntary or required by regulation or bylaw. Mercury regulations are covered in another section (see Regulations and Policies).