how to dispose of mercury thermometer

Do not simply throw mercury-containing or mercury-glass thermometers away in the trash, because the mercury is considered "hazardous waste." 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. If you are unable to recycle due to the current health emergency, please do not dispose of your mercury thermostats in the trash. When a mercury thermometer breaks, liquid mercury may spill out and can separate into small beads and can roll some distance away. Ask everyone to step away from the area around the broken thermometer immediately. If a mercury-glass thermometer ever breaks, do not touch the mercury -- it is very poisonous. Mercury as a preservative, such as thiomersal and antiseptic such as merbromin may be recycled or disposed of … Only mercury containing thermometers are accepted. Cleanup and Disposal. Use the sulphur neutralising process on these as outlined. The non-mercury thermometers are non-toxic and environmentally safe. Tip: Mercury can move a long way on a smooth flat surface and shatter into tiny balls - check the entire room carefully. Disposal of mercury wastes in the regular trash or down the drain is illegal and unsafe. Mercury is an element that has been used in everything from mining to hat making. A silver, metallic liquid will be visible from inside the bulb or vial if the thermometer contains mercury. Store and recycle them when normal operations resume. While mercury isn’t recyclable, many of these products are. This Really Happened An 11-month-old girl was seen in a hospital because she developed loss of appetite, difficulty crawling, drowsiness, an itchy rash, red skin on her hands, and peeling skin on her feet. Transport mercury thermometers in a sealed plastic or glass container. See Key Actions below to use an interactive map or search by location to find nearby collection and recycling sites.. See Additional Resources below to learn more about safe management and disposal of fluorescent bulbs, proper cleanup of broken bulbs and elemental mercury spills, and more. Some communities have permanent HHW collection centers, while others only collect HHW occasionally. Drop off locations listed below: Carefully pour off as much water as you can and then use an eyedropper to pick up the mercury. For homes still living in the dark ages and using mercury thermometers, you’re operating with a huge risk in the house. If you are a business, school, or other non-household site that is a CEG, you can take elemental mercury, mercury-containing compounds or mercury-containing devices for safe disposal to a permanent HHW collection facility or a HHW collection event. Do not spend time in areas where mercury has been spilled until you are prepared to clean it up. If you think you have a mercury-containing thermometer, bring it to Clean Sweep when you are ready to dispose of it. Do not vacuum broken lamp or thermometer debris. We hope this guide proved useful in showing you the appropriate steps to follow to dispose of your mercury-containing product. 2. The remaining liquid can be cleaned up with soap and water. If your thermometer contains a red or blue liquid, it’s an alcohol thermometer. How Our Disposal Service Works Our medical services team will arrange a collection from your premises: The mercury is transported in a secure container The safest way to deal with a broken mercury thermometer is to clean up the mercury immediately, and then safely dispose of anything that the mercury touched. Small businesses may be able to dispose of mercury-containing thermometers and other mercury-containing devices at town or solid waste district collection events. Put it into a zip-top, sealable plastic bag. Safe Thermometers There are several alternatives to mercury thermometers: digital thermometers ; glass gallium-tin thermometers Replacement of fever thermometers, mercury thermostats and disposal of mercury products for residents only. If the worse should happen and the thermometer drops, cracks, or breaks, this is how to need to take care of it. The requirements for disposing of a broken thermometer can differ by city, Call your local health department or municipal waste facility to ask how to label and dispose … To effectively dispose of the thermometer, you must first research household hazardous waste facilities in your area. Knowing how to dispose of mercury the proper way is essential, whether you operate a business or are cleaning out your home. Call 911 if a thermometer, thermostat or wall-mounted blood pressure cuff is broken and mercury is released. Hazardous Waste. These items are accepted at the Environmental Service Center.. Make special effort to ensure that children stay away. Pack the thermometer in a puncture-resistant, non-breakable sealed container such as a plastic bottle and then label the container as a thermometer with a … Use a piece of paper or light cardboard to collect larger blobs and put these on a wet paper towel then put this into a sealed container. The following disposal options are available to commercial/institutional generators of mercury-containing thermometers: 1. Mercury can be found in compact fluorescent lights, thermometers, thermostats and old mercury switches. 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. Mercury thermometers are made of glass and contains a silver, metallic gray or black liquid. How To Dispose Of Mercury Thermometers Safely. To prevent possible contamination, stop using your mercury thermometer. Transport and deliver thermometers in a double container: -place the thermometer in the original protective case or other non-breakable container Printer-friendly version; Environmental Health and Safety. Disposing of household items containing mercury or disposing of industrial-use mercury requires knowledge of local, state and federal requirements so that you dispose of the mercury in accordance with the law. Put thermometer in a non-breakable sealed container (e.g. 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 … Seal the bag and place it in another bag. Use an eyedropper or heavy duty tape to pick up any tiny spheres. Leave the room while you plan. Mercury is highly toxic, and even short-term exposure due to a spillage or cracked thermometer can lead to harmful effects. Elemental mercury, otherwise known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum, may be reclaimed from obsolete apparatus such as sphygomanometers and mercury in glass thermometers for future use. Remove contaminated shoes and clothing and place them in a plastic bag. How to Check for Mercury. How to Dispose of Mercury if Thermometer Breaks? Let everyone in the area know that the room is off-limits, or leave a sign on the door. Direct shipment as "Universal Waste" to a mercury recycling facility. In spite of mercury's high toxicity, it is still found in home thermometers and florescent light bulbs. Each mercury thermometer contains approximately one gram of mercury. Small businesses may be able to dispose of mercury-containing thermometers and other mercury-containing devices at town or solid waste district collection events. Identifying Mercury-Containing Items. Red colored thermometers do not contain mercury. plastic bleach bottle). If your thermometer is still intact, you will need to take it to your local household hazardous waste (HHW) facility. 1. have all people and pets leave, then ventilate the room (continue to do so for 24 hours) 2. put on heavy duty rubber gloves and p… Find a local hazardous waste disposal service Certain household products may pose a risk to human health or the environment if not disposed of correctly. The best way to prevent dangerous spills in your school is to get rid of mercury, but you have to do it safely. Clearly label the bottle "thermometer or mercury". You will likely have to utilize your local household hazardous waste (HHW) facility or events to properly dispose of and … Learn how to safely manage products and wastes that contain mercury at home, school, and work. Mercury. We encourage those wishing to dispose of mercury thermometers to contact their local community to determine what agency is responsible for disposal of hazardous material in that municipality. Get a new, safer type of thermometer and contact your local recycling center to find out how to dispose of your old mercury thermometer safely. Properly dispose of contaminated cleanup materials. If you don’t follow safe disposal practices, items containing mercury can: Break when they are thrown into school trash cans or dumpsters, causing mercury to spill and contaminate school grounds (make them unsafe). We know that old thermometers were used to take people’s temperature. Remove children and pets from the room. Use gloves and clean it up with something that can be thrown away. Transport mercury and mercury-containing items in a rigid, sealed container to avoid breakage on the way to the collection site. Up through the early 2000’s, HVAC manufacturers used mercury in thermostats to control heating and … Close all doors, windows, and vents leading to other rooms of the building, and open windows leading to the outside. Get assistance: Broken mercury thermometer If you have a broken mercury thermometer, follow the instructions on the MPCA factsheet Cleaning up Spilled Mercury in the Home and bring broken item and clean up materials in a closed bag to a Hennepin County Drop-off Facility . Cleaning up a small mercury spill caused by a broken mercury lamp or thermometer can be performed as follows: Sweep up debris with a small broom. The broken glass should be placed in a sharps container to prevent injury. But if you still have an old-fashioned mercury thermometer at home, you will need to dispose of it with care once its time comes. First, cut out the contaminated pieces of fabric and seal them in a plastic bag. A uniform approach to disposal of all mercury-containing products must occur if there is to be an effective way to keep mercury out of the environment. We maintain more than 3,400 collection locations nationwide … Direct shipment as … One gram of mercury per year deposited in a 20-acre lake is enough to raise the levels of mercury … Sweep gently to avoid suspending powders in the air. Shipment through a hazardous waste transporter to … There may be a small charge for disposal and pre-registration is usually required. Don't allow anybody to step on the mercury or the shards of glass. Many household products contain mercury, from CFLs to button batteries to some thermometers. Mercury poisoning is a real threat to the planet and all life upon it. Clean liquid mercury from absorbent surfaces. If a mercury-containing thermometer is broken, do not clean up the spilled mercury with a vacuum cleaner. Wipe off any visible beads of mercury with the wet paper towels and then place them into the plastic bag. Digital Thermometers Are E-Waste. 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