Tips for Recycling Products Containing Mercury

Mercury is a potentially dangerous, bio-accumulative element that must be handled with care. Because of this, any products containing mercury should be disposed of properly to lessen the chance of mercury contamination in the environment.

• Check with Earth911.com or your local waste management service to locate recycling events and dates where household hazardous waste (HHW) is collected.
• Many manufacturers of mercury products (such as fluorescent lamps and thermometers) include information on packaging to facilitate recycling. Read this information carefully to properly dispose of any products containing mercury.
• If you should spill mercury for any reason, never use a broom or vacuum to clean the spill, as these may spread or retain mercury. Visit the U.S.EPA for proper instructions in handling a mercury cleanup.
• Don’t forget that button batteries (such as those used in watches and toys) contain mercury as well. While these batteries may appear small, button batteries add three to five tons of mercury to U.S. commerce each year. If not properly handled, these tiny batteries can add up to a large problem.
• Many electronics products contain trace elements of mercury. According to the book Green, Greener, Greenest, “The Association of Electronics Recyclers projects that with current growth and obsolescence rates, an average of 400 million consumer electronics per year will be tossed.” Be sure to recycle your used electronics to prevent mercury contamination from these prevalent items.

Supporting mercury recycling efforts contributes to continued success in reducing the environmental impact of, and industrial need for, mercury. According to the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA), “Product manufacturers reported that they eliminated 11.6 tons of mercury from products sold in the U.S. from 2002 to 2006.” When it comes to recycling mercury, every little bit counts.