how to dispose mercury
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 192,845 times.wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. The recycling and disposal of electrical waste includes mercury tilt switches, manometers and fluorescent light bulbs. Never use a vacuum cleaner, mop or broom to clean up a mercury spill! To create this article, 32 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. To create this article, 32 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dispose of mercury following safety guidelines though.

For any spill larger than a pea, a professional hazardous cleanup crew is recommended.

Find resources for getting rid of mercury. I believe the USPS does not list mercury as a hazardous shipping material if properly contained and secured for shipping. Do not spend time in areas where mercury has been spilled until you are prepared to clean it up.

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.

Mercury is a neurotoxin that can cause serious effects in tiny concentrations.All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being publishedDo not allow contact with skin! Now that you have an idea of what to avoid, here are some steps to take.If the break occurred over clothing or bedding, the material should be wrapped up and thrown away. Packaging mercury for storage and transportation; Recycling and disposal options; Packaging Mercury for Storage and Transportation.

If your vacuum has a canister, wipe it clean with damp paper towels and dispose of the used towels.

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}For more tips, including how to dispose of carpet or other fabrics covered in mercury, read on.

That said, most household objects that contain mercury have only a small amount, and can be safely dealt with at home, then brought to a recycling center or some hardware stores for disposal.

Let everyone in the area know that the room is off-limits, or leave a sign on the door. Mops and brooms will spread the mercury, making proper cleanup more difficult and costly. By now you probably see a theme. 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.Cleaning up a broken mercury thermometer is somewhat more involved, so I'll post those instructions separately. Mercury is one of the most toxic and environmentally damaging elements we encounter in day to day use.

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Newer models of thermometers contain alcohol or another liquid substance that simulates mercury. Go online usps.gov and search to verify. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker.