Mercury Thermometers

Many households have various types of thermometers used for many different applications. Some of these thermometers may contain mercury:

• Fever and basal thermometers,
• Oven, candy and meat thermometers,
• Indoor/outdoor thermometers,
• Laboratory thermometers,
• Temperature measuring devices in industrial applications.

How do I know if these items contain mercury?

A mercury thermometer can be easily identified by the presence of a silver bulb. (One exception to this is the new fever thermometers containing gallium, indium and tin that also contain a silver bulb but are clearly marked "mercury-free.") If the bulb is red, blue, purple, green or any other color, it is not a mercury thermometer. ALL MERCURY CONTAINING THERMOMETERS MUST NOT BE DISPOSED OF IN THE REGULAR TRASH.

What if I want to replace my mercury thermometer? Is there anything available on the market?

There are a number of alternatives to mercury thermometers depending on the specific application including digital (note: digital thermometers contain a battery Internal which contains a small amount of mercury and should be disposed of properly), alcohol and mineral spirits (e.g. those containing red or blue liquid), and galinstan, a mixture of gallium, indium and tin that is similar to mercury in appearance (these are not yet widely available).

How do I recycle the mercury thermometers I have in my home?

Store waste mercury thermometers in closed, non-leaking containers that are in good condition and pack thermometers with packing materials adequate to prevent breakage during storage, handling, and transportation. Contain any thermometer that shows evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions in a sealed plastic bag within a container. Households should dispose of mercury containing thermometers and any waste created from the cleanup of broken thermometers at one of the recycling opportunities. Mercury thermometers are also accepted locally at:

• RSD-Total Control, 1833 East Main Street, Visalia, Telephone (559) 636-2101

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How do I recycle mercury thermometers generated by my business or institution?

Only Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Universal Waste Generators (CESQUWGs) are eligible to utilize the following recycling opportunities Internal. A CESQUWG is a generator who:

• Disposes of less than 1 kilogram of RCRA acutely hazardous waste, or a combined total of 100 kilograms or less of universal and RCRA hazardous waste, in any calendar month; and
• Generates no more than 5 Cathode Ray Tube Devices in a calendar year (see Cathode Ray Tube Materials Internal page).

Businesses and Institutions that exceed the CESQUWG thresholds must transport universal wastes to other universal waste handlers or destination facilities in accordance with the following requirements (22 CCR 66273.18 or 66273.38, as appropriate):

• Comply with applicable Department Of Transportation requirements for labeling, marking, placarding, and shipping papers; and
• Follow requirements for rejected shipments.

A list of businesses specializing in universal waste recycling services may be found at www.almr.org/membersprintable.pdf.

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