This week, until Oct. 15, anyone replacing a thermostat or upgrading an HVAC system is encouraged to recycle the old thermostats, which contain mercury, at Canadian Tire.
Canadian Tire stores - including the 7200 Market Crossing location in Burnaby - are also offering discounts on energy-efficient models as part of the Switch the 'Stat program.
"Many old thermostats contain mercury that, when disposed of in regular household waste, end up in landfills where the mercury can contaminate the air, soil and water," stated a press release from Summerhill Impact, an environmental marketing company.
October events include 20 to 50 per cent discounts on energy efficient thermostats at Canadian Tire stores, and contests for $100 Canadian Tire gift cards.
The week's events are part of Switch the 'Stat, a provincial stewardship program that is administered by the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada and delivered by Summerhill Impact.
For more information about the program, go to www.switchthestat.ca
