Secure the containers so that they do not tip over, and to minimize shifting or sliding during sudden stops or turns. Leave the room while you plan. Find more information about universal wastes and the RCRA regulations that apply to them. Households are exempt from these regulations. Then take your mercury thermostat and drop it off at your chosen location and you're done! Some mercury-containing equipment or products cannot be regulated as a universal waste. Fluorescent bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury. You may also bring them to a … You will likely have to utilize your local household hazardous waste (HHW) facility or events to properly dispose of and recycle items containing mercury. Don't do anything that would spread the mercury or cause it to become airborne. Batteries. Experts say there isn't much danger from the mercury, so just be careful not to cut yourself. Mercury is an extremely toxic heavy metal. 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. Dry-Cell Batteries are used in a variety of electronics and include alkaline and carbon zinc … Use a sheet of paper or cardboard to scoop up glass and metal pieces. Shut off the heater or air conditioner, is applicable. 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. Some places will allow you to throw away broken fluorescent bulbs with other trash while others have more stringent requirements for this type of waste disposal. Go to landfills and trash incinerators, where they can spread mercury into the environment. Now that you have an idea of what to avoid, here are some steps to take. Mercury from medical applications can enter the environment through sewers, spills and land disposal of trash. Clearly label storage container as "Mercury - DO NOT OPEN.". The first step of proper collection and disposal of mercury components is to collect the amalgam. There must be space left inside the container after placing the mercury thermostat there. Some states have laws that cover hazardous waste disposal. Isolate the area – get children and pets out of the room where the breakage occurred so that the beads of mercury are not accidentally eaten or tracked throughout the home. This will release mercury into the air and greatly increase the level of contamination. The disposal of hearing aid batteries depends on the type of battery and if it contains mercury. An official website of the United States government. Properly dispose of contaminated cleanup materials. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. (fabricated products do not include elemental mercury or mercury compounds) Signs must be posted on the storage area that are clearly visible. Place kitty litter or oil-absorbent matter around the product to protect it from breaking or sudden shocks. The important thing to remember is that mercury-containing waste must not be thrown into the household recycling bin, as it won’t be recycled correctly. 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. Practice Greenhealth is designed to help hospitals improve their environmental performance. Deposit the breakage into a glass jar with a lid or a sealable plastic bag. Clear the room of people, especially children, and pets. How to Dispose of Mercury if Thermometer Breaks? In the event mercury containing items are broken, keep children and pets away; immediately open windows in the exposed area (if possible); wearing gloves and a face mask clean up the area using rags and items that can be … Some items, like light bulbs, and even old TVs and appliances, can contain hazardous metals like lead and mercury. Pick up any pieces of glass and set them on a paper towel. If the items in the home that contain mercury are not in good condition, or are likely to break when they are moved, people may want to call in a professional to perform a more thorough mitigation of the problem. It is advisable to double-check with the location you choose to confirm that they will accept your thermostat. 1. Some counties and cities also have household hazardous waste collection programs. Proper Collection and Disposal of Mercury Components. Many communities have household hazardous waste collection events or sites where you can safely dispose of these items. Mercury-contaminated items should not be placed in the regular household trash. In case someone is working with mercury in a … Several states and municipalities do not recognize the exemption for households; others regulate all fluorescent bulbs as hazardous, regardless of their mercury content. Though you might not have any mercury thermometers in your home, chances are good you have other items that contain mercury, such as fluorescent or other mercury-containing light bulbs, or mercury-containing thermostats. If your vacuum has a canister, wipe it clean with damp paper towels and dispose of the used towels. Through this program, health care professionals are educated about mercury reduction and pollution prevention opportunities. Place kitty litter or oil-absorbent matter around the product to protect it from breaking or sudden shocks. 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. And, the warning that they also contain small amounts of mercury comes right along with that knowledge, making them a little irksome to dispose of. 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. Store items out of the way in bubble wrap or boxes until you can take them to the Disposal of Toxics facility; Spill Assistance Don't re-use any cloth or sponge that came in contact with the mercury, ever. Let everyone in the area know that the room is off-limits, or leave a sign on the door. Additionally, many parts of the country offer designated recycling facilities that are trained to safely handle items that contain mercury. Drop-off thermometers at: West Valley College Student Health Services - 14000 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga 2. If that is not available, use a throwaway glass or plastic container. Don't track it around on your shoes. Contact your town or county officials for information about hazardous waste disposal … Close all doors, windows, and vents leading to other rooms of the building, and open windows leading to the outside. By now you probably see a theme. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. When handling products with mercury: Do not break, crush, or disassemble the items. Mercury can be found in compact fluorescent lights, thermometers, thermostats and old mercury switches. You can visit the US EPA site for additional help in cleaning up after an accident involving mercury. When a mercury thermometer breaks, liquid mercury may spill out and can separate into small beads and can roll some distance away. Make special effort to ensure that children stay away. How Can I Dispose of Mercury Waste? Don't vacuum up the spill or breakage. The first step to the safe disposal of mercury is to identify the main mercury-containing products that that you are likely to come across. It can clog your plumbing and seriously pollute your septic system … Use sticky tape to pick up the smaller pieces of debris. While paper and tape should be sufficient to clean up breakage on a hard surface, you may need to vacuum a carpet or rug. Check product labels. Mercury-free battery options can be disposed of in household waste — to determine if your hearing aid batteries are mercury-free, refer to the packaging. This Home Depot guide has information on proper disposal, plus gives tips about where to recycle batteries. For more information specific to your state, enter your location's ZIP code into the Earth911.com recycling locatorExitto contact your local waste collection agency; the agency can tell you if such requirement exists in your state or locality. Fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps use less electricity per unit of light emitted than incandescent lighting which means lower levels of air pollutants such as mercury, lead, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides from electrical generation plants. Eventually they wear out, and it's important to know how to dispose of batteries properly, whether they're rechargeable AA batteries or disposable akaline batteries. Dispose of contaminated items properly! From cell phones and laptops to power tools and children’s toys, batteries are used to power all types of portable devices. 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. Don't sweep up the ... Don't pour mercury down the drain. Cleaning up a broken mercury thermometer is somewhat more involved, so I'll post those instructions separately. Do not spend time in areas where mercury has been spilled until you are prepared to clean it up. Don't sweep or vacuum spilled mercury up! If you must transport in the passenger compartment, make sure there is adequate ventilation. For example, Vermont bans all mercury-containing waste from landfills, including mercury-containing waste generated by households. more information about universal wastes and the RCRA regulations that apply to them. Vacuum only after all visible remains have been cleaned up and then dispose of the bag or debris with the rest of the clean-up. If you have metallic mercury in your home, you need to exercise extreme caution with it and package it to prevent any leaks or spills. Keep people and pets away and open windows to ventilate the area. Handling: Place the mercury thermostat you want to dispose of in a recommended dangerous waste container. The reason is explained in the next step. New York State Rules and Regulations control the disposal of mercury-containing items and waste. Transport containers to a household hazardous collection center in a cardboard box. Find resources for getting rid of mercury. How to recycle mercury thermostats If your home thermostat has a digital readout, rest assured: It is new enough to be mercury-free. If you are replacing a thermostat, check to see if the old thermostat has a mercury switch. Drop the used tape into the jar or bag. Find your nearest location by entering your zip code below. Open windows in the room and allow fresh air to flow. Remove contaminated shoes and clothing and place them in a plastic bag. If you must wait for a hazardous waste collection day, store products safely in their original containers with the labels intact, and keep them out of reach of children and pets. Many household products contain mercury, from CFLs to button batteries to some thermometers. Proper disposal of fluorescent and HID lamps. The most fool-proof way to find out what is inside your thermostat is to remove its front cover. The EPA has this page on how to contain and dispose of large amounts of mercury in the home. See “Applicability-Mercury-Containing Equipment” in the universal waste regulations, specifically section 66273.4, Title 22, of the California Code of Regulations. 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). Do not allow children to help you clean up. 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. Open a window and allow the room to air out at least 15 minutes. We maintain more than 3,400 collection locations nationwide that will recycle mercury thermostats at no cost to you. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Avoid putting mercury-containing products in the trash or down the drain. However, if your thermostat has knobs or small bars you slide to adjust the temperature, it probably contains mercury. 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. If there is no HHW disposal program available in your county or nearby counties, call the DEQ solid waste technical assistance staff member in the nearest DEQ regional office regarding free pick-up of mercury from your home by a DEQ hazardous waste contractor. RCRA designates some widely generated hazardous wastes as "universal wastes.” This term includes mercury-containing wastes like certain batteries, thermostats, barometers, manometers, temperature and pressure gauges, certain switches, and light bulbs. Many states and local agencies have developed collection/exchange programs for mercury-containing devices such as thermometers, manometers, and thermostats. Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Wipe off any visible beads of mercury with the wet paper towels and then place them into the plastic bag. Check with the waste disposal regulations where you live. For information about these programs, contact your local officials to find out when and where a collection will be held in your area. There are many state and local programs for recycling or disposing items that contain mercury. Here are some things not to do, plus recommendations for the best way to clean up after a mercury release or spill. To find a mercury thermostat recycling location, go to the TRC website and type your zip code into the locator tool at the top of the page. Collection of the amalgam must be done carefully as it can prove hazardous to the patient and dental staff. Many people have found containers of elemental or metallic mercury in their homes. Still other common household items, like electronics, should be recycled because they contain precious metals. You can also use Earth911's Recycling Locator Exitto find a recycling center near you. Never touch spilled mercury. Seal the bag and place it in another bag. Gather the clean-up kit: 2.1. a pair of disposable latex or plastic gloves 2.2. zip lock b… Once your results populate, click on a location to get business hours, phone numbers, and directions. To find out how to get rid of the mercury in your school: Businesses and industries that qualify as universal waste handlers must follow specific requirements for storing, transporting and disposing of these wastes. While mercury isn’t recyclable, many of these products are. See the next two sections of this page to find how to package, transport and dispose of mercury. Packaging Mercury for Storage and Transportation Place all mercury-containing products or containers of mercury inside a larger container with a tight fitting lid. In order to make sure that all the debris are collected safely, one can also use a vacuum cleaner to make sure space is cleaned thoroughly and there is no trace of mercury anywhere. For more information on additional mercury-containing items, please call the Disposal of Toxics Program. 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. Store mercury added products (fabricated products) in a designated area which is separate from solid waste disposal. Some states and local jurisdictions have elected to pass regulations that are more stringent than the federal hazardous waste regulations. These items are accepted at the Environmental Service Center.. Some retail stores also offer collection points, so it’s best to check RecyclingNearYou.com.au where you can find your closest collection point for each type of waste. Transport containers in the back of a pick-up truck or in your car's trunk. Write "mercury--do not open," on the container with a permanent marker and place the container in a cardboard box. 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. Cleaning up after a mercury release or spill the drain building, and thermostats seal bag... 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