Mercury


Mercury is a naturally occurring element. Its unique properties include the ability to exist as a liquid, even at room temperature.  For decades, its unique properties have made mercury useful in a variety of electronic devices and products.  However, about  two-thirds of the mercury released into the environment comes from man-made sources, such as spills, emissions from coal-burning plants, and incineration of or land filling with mercury-containing products. 

Mercury evaporates at room temperature and evaporation occurs more rapidly when heated.  After it enters the atmosphere, mercury can soak into the ground with rain and snow, enabling it to potentially enter lakes, rivers, and watersheds.  Mercury is poisonous and accumulates in the tissues of animals and people, causing birth defects, nervous disorders, permanent brain damage, and even death through prolonged exposure. 

Once mercury reaches a waterway, bacteria convert some of it to methyl mercury, which is highly toxic and very persistent. Because mercury tends to accumulate in the tissues of animals, animals that are higher up the food chain, such as predatory fish, usually have the highest concentrations of mercury in their tissues.

People can be exposed to harmful levels of mercury through inhalation or skin contact, but the primary route of exposure for most people today is eating mercury-contaminated fish. The concentration of mercury absorbed from regular consumption of affected fish can impair the nervous system and other organs, especially in a developing fetus or young child. Dangerously high concentrations of mercury have been detected in water bodies throughout California. You may have heard warnings for people to avoid eating certain species and sizes of fish because they contain mercury.

Some items that may be around your home that may also contain mercury are:

  • Mercury Lamps (many different fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, mercury vapor lights, metal Halide lights and high/low pressure sodium lamps that are sometimes used for outdoor floodlights)
  • Mercury Switches (switches used for convenience lights in vehicles and household appliances)
  • Thermostats used for regulating the heating and cooling of your home.
  • Thermometers (used to check fever, ovens and other temperature measuring devices)

Many items that contain mercury exceed the hazardous waste criteria for mercury content. Others, such as lamps,  are considered universal waste if they contain any amount of added mercury.

The County of Tulare, with funding from CalRecycle, has established collection opportunities, at no charge, for households to safely recycle items containing mercury.

Mercury containing equipment and substances (§66273.4):

* Mercury-containing motor vehicle light switches, and vehicles that contain them
* Non-automotive mercury switches and products that contain them
* Mercury Thermostats
* Dental Amalgam Wastes
* Mercury Pressure or Vacuum Gauges
* Mercury-Added Novelties
* Mercury Counterweights and Dampers
* Mercury Thermometers
* Mercury Dilators and Weighted Tubing
* Mercury-Containing Rubber Flooring
* Mercury Gas Flow Regulators

Local Collection Sites and Special Collection Events