OK, this is a strange one. Last year I inherited a bunch of stuff from
my uncle, and part of it includes several cases of old mercury
thermometers. I know that these aren't used much anymore, and that it
is dangerous to throw them out because of the mercury, but is there
any value in recycling them. I tried my local government helpline, and
they said to just bring them to the hazardous waste collection site;
that seems like a waste. Are there companies that buy (or even just
take without charging a fee) old mercury thermometers and recycle the
contents?

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 30 Aug 2006 15:14 PDT

Where are you located? (zip or city/state) Some states provide
directories of where/how you can dispose of these thermometers.

---

Clarification of Question by mhutton2-ga on 30 Aug 2006 15:19 PDT

I am in Minneapolis, MN.

Hello mhutton2-ga,

Minnesota has strict laws about the sales and disposal of mercury
thermometers. It is illegal to sell or throw mercury thermometers in
the trash. Each county has identified locations where you can drop off
your mercury containing trash for free. There are two locations in
Hennepin County, Brooklyn Park and Bloomington.

Although none of the websites say so explicitly, based on the various
government agency websites, I believe that the thermometers and other
mercury containing devices that are collected at the various county
waste disposal sites are eventually sent for recycling to companies
that reclaim the mercury.

Below I?ve listed a collection of links to help you get familiar with
Minnesota laws and requirements about disposal of mercury
thermometers.

All the best.

~ czh ~



http://www.mepartnership.org/documents/HgIQfinal.pdf
What is your Hg IQ?

12.
What is the only legal way to dispose of products containing mercury in Minnesota? 
a. call your local solid waste office for drop-off and/or pick-up times
b. return the product to the manufacturer
c. place it in a labeled bag and leave it out with the rest of your trash 
d. there is no law, throw it in the garbage

12. a. call your local solid waste office for drop-off and/or pick-up
times. For full language of the law, go to:
www.moea.state.mn.us/berc/WMA-hg-01.pdf. For information on how to
dispose of products containing mercury, contact your county solid
waste officer for location and hours or call the Minnesota Office of
Environmental Assistance at 1-800-657-3843.

==

http://greenguardian.com/throw2_mercury.asp
In Minnesota, it is illegal to throw away a mercury thermometer -
never put a mercury thermometer in your garbage, whether it is intact
or broken. Take it to your county's household hazardous waste
collection site. To find the collection site nearest you, go to the
Household Hazardous Waste page.

==

http://greenguardian.com/throw_hhw.asp
DISPOSAL GUIDE FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
Refer to this list of some products typically used in, and around, the
home. Unless directed to call first, take them to your county
household hazardous waste collection site.

2. HENNEPIN COUNTY
612-348-3RRR (3777)

a. Brooklyn Park:
Recycling Center & Transfer Station
8100 Jefferson Highway
TUES, THURS, FRI 10 AM - 6 PM
WED 10 AM - 8 PM
SAT 8 AM - 5 PM 
Closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. 

b. Bloomington:
South Hennepin Recycling & Problem Waste Drop-off Center
1400 West 96th St
TUES, THURS, FRI 10 AM - 6 PM
WED 10 AM - 8 PM
SAT 8 AM - 5 PM
Closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

==

http://hennepin.us/vgn/portal/internet/hcdetailmaster/0,2300,1273_10042401_100624451,00.html
Disposal 
Mercury thermometers are accepted as a Household Hazardous Waste.  If
broken, put the thermometer in a sealed plastic or glass container,
and bring to one of the facilities below.  See RELATED LINKS for more
information on the handling, storage and disposal of HHW.

Fees
Free of charge.

Facilities
Accepted at the Brooklyn Park and Bloomington Drop-Off facilities. 
See RELATED LINKS in the right navigation for facility hours,
directions and general facility information.

==

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/w-hhw2-03.pdf
Collecting and Managing Household Mercury Thermometers

==

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/hot/legislature/reports/2002/mercury-appendix-c.pdf
Mercury Thermometer Sales Ban

The Office of Environmental Assistance developed a 2001 Session
legislative proposal to prohibit the sale of most mercury thermometers
in Minnesota. Two legislators also introduced mercury thermometer
sales prohibitions. The legislature passed the most comprehensive
language from these proposals. With a few narrow exemptions to cover
legally required uses, products with no available alternative, and
primary calibration standards, the sales prohibition became effective
January 1, 2002

==

http://www.moea.state.mn.us/p2/mercury.cfm
Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance -- Mercury

==

http://www.mepartnership.org/sites/MERCURYFREEMN/sub_join.asp
Mercury-Free Minnesota

==

http://www.mwsi.com/new/ReclamationServices.cfm
Mercury Waste Solutions 




SEARCH STRATEGY
recycle OR dispose mercury thermometer Minnesota

Its perfectly possible to recycle the mercury from thermometers and
you used to be able to get £1/kilo for clean mercury