Dive Brief:

• The Cincinnati Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) began excavating 72 pounds of mercury from the Rumpke Sanitary landfill.

• Last June, nine flow meters that each contained up to eight pounds of mercury were delivered to the landfill in Colerain Township, Ohio, by mistake.

• It is speculated that the mercury is under 20,000 cubic yards of waste; Rumpke stopped depositing waste in the area and began separating that area from the rest of the site.

Dive Insight:

Although the volume of mercury is small, due to its classification as a heavy metal, the amount is considered significant. A study was conducted in October by MSD, the Ohio EPA and Rumpke to determine where the mercury was located. The EPA gave its approval of the excavation plan.