Businesses and industries that qualify as universal waste handlers must follow specific requirements for storing, transporting and disposing of these wastes. If that is not available, use a throwaway glass or plastic container. United States Environmental Protection Agency, What to do if you have mercury in your home, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) recycling and disposal requirements that apply to business and industry, Packaging mercury for storage and transportation, Recycling and Disposal After a CFL Burns Out, Frequent Questions about Recycling Items Containing Mercury (Earth911.com). Many communities have household hazardous waste collection events or sites where you can safely dispose of these items. Make special effort to ensure that children stay away. Open windows in the room and allow fresh air to flow. See the next two sections of this page to find how to package, transport and dispose of mercury. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. You can start with our list of common items containing mercury, but also remember that computers, tablets, mobile phones and other items that rely on printed circuit boards may also contain some mercury and other toxic metals. Check product labels. However, if your thermostat has knobs or small bars you slide to adjust the temperature, it probably contains mercury. For information about these programs, contact your local officials to find out when and where a collection will be held in your area. Cleaning up a broken mercury thermometer is somewhat more involved, so I'll post those instructions separately. Now that you have an idea of what to avoid, here are some steps to take. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Use sticky tape to pick up the smaller pieces of debris. Drop the used tape into the jar or bag. Contact your town or county officials for information about hazardous waste disposal … Once your results populate, click on a location to get business hours, phone numbers, and directions. Mercury-contaminated items should not be placed in the regular household trash. Additionally, many parts of the country offer designated recycling facilities that are trained to safely handle items that contain mercury. Seal the bag and place it in another bag. See “Applicability-Mercury-Containing Equipment” in the universal waste regulations, specifically section 66273.4, Title 22, of the California Code of Regulations. Deposit the breakage into a glass jar with a lid or a sealable plastic bag. Many states and local agencies have developed collection/exchange programs for mercury-containing devices such as thermometers, manometers, and thermostats. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, How to Dispose of a Broken Fluorescent Bulb, Why You Should Not Mix Alcohol and Bleach, Cross-Border Pollution: A Growing International Problem, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. Use a sheet of paper or cardboard to scoop up glass and metal pieces. Don't re-use any cloth or sponge that came in contact with the mercury, ever. The most fool-proof way to find out what is inside your thermostat is to remove its front cover. Leave the room while you plan. For more information on additional mercury-containing items, please call the Disposal of Toxics Program. Transport containers in the back of a pick-up truck or in your car's trunk. Make it easy on yourself and let The Home Depot take care of the hazardous part by taking advantage of its CFLs Recycling Initiative program. From cell phones and laptops to power tools and children’s toys, batteries are used to power all types of portable devices. Batteries. Place kitty litter or oil-absorbent matter around the product to protect it from breaking or sudden shocks. To find out how to get rid of the mercury in your school: Handling: Place the mercury thermostat you want to dispose of in a recommended dangerous waste container. If your vacuum has a canister, wipe it clean with damp paper towels and dispose of the used towels. Store items out of the way in bubble wrap or boxes until you can take them to the Disposal of Toxics facility; Spill Assistance Place kitty litter or oil-absorbent matter around the product to protect it from breaking or sudden shocks. Clearly label storage container as "Mercury - DO NOT OPEN.". Remove contaminated shoes and clothing and place them in a plastic bag. Many people have found containers of elemental or metallic mercury in their homes. You can visit the US EPA site for additional help in cleaning up after an accident involving mercury. How to Dispose of Mercury if Thermometer Breaks? These items are accepted at the Environmental Service Center.. By now you probably see a theme. Through this program, health care professionals are educated about mercury reduction and pollution prevention opportunities. While paper and tape should be sufficient to clean up breakage on a hard surface, you may need to vacuum a carpet or rug. When a mercury thermometer breaks, liquid mercury may spill out and can separate into small beads and can roll some distance away. Although a spill of a small amount of mercury is highly unlikely to cause any health problems, it is best to be prepared when handling mercury and to avoid direct contact with the skin, eyes or mouth. Mercury can be found in compact fluorescent lights, thermometers, thermostats and old mercury switches. Go to landfills and trash incinerators, where they can spread mercury into the environment. Keep people and pets away and open windows to ventilate the area. The disposal of hearing aid batteries depends on the type of battery and if it contains mercury. Here are some things not to do, plus recommendations for the best way to clean up after a mercury release or spill. Some states have laws that cover hazardous waste disposal. Still other common household items, like electronics, should be recycled because they contain precious metals. Check with the waste disposal regulations where you live. Several states and municipalities do not recognize the exemption for households; others regulate all fluorescent bulbs as hazardous, regardless of their mercury content. Find your nearest location by entering your zip code below. For example, Vermont bans all mercury-containing waste from landfills, including mercury-containing waste generated by households. How to recycle mercury thermostats If your home thermostat has a digital readout, rest assured: It is new enough to be mercury-free. Place them in a sealed plastic bag on top of their blue recycling cart; Drop-off lights at: Home Depot (CFLs only) - 975 S De Anza Blvd, San Jose; Batteries Plus Bulbs - 3410 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose, CA, 95117; Mercury Thermometers. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Some states and local jurisdictions have elected to pass regulations that are more stringent than the federal hazardous waste regulations. Never touch spilled mercury. When handling products with mercury: Do not break, crush, or disassemble the items. Here's what to do if you break a bulb: If the break occurred over clothing or bedding, the material should be wrapped up and thrown away. If you break a mercury thermometer, thermostat, or fluorescent bulb you need to be a lot more careful cleaning up the accident than you might think. Excerpt: What to Do if You Have Mercury in Your Home Many people have containers of elemental mercury in their homes left over from science projects or other sources. Open a window and allow the room to air out at least 15 minutes. Bring some sticky tape and use it to collect the smaller, finer pieces of the mercury and the broken container and put them along with the sticky tape in the jar or the plastic container. Set a dry paper towel close to the spill so … Place all mercury-containing products or containers of mercury inside a larger container with a tight fitting lid. Households are exempt from these regulations. Secure the containers so that they do not tip over, and to minimize shifting or sliding during sudden stops or turns. You will likely have to utilize your local household hazardous waste (HHW) facility or events to properly dispose of and recycle items containing mercury. 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