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Mercury Disposal
There
are several different options for disposing of mercury. Each
method has advantages and limitations.
1)
Recycle: Elemental
Mercury, the heavy silvery liquid, is a material that can be recycled.
Unbroken fluorescent light bulbs and thermostats are products
common enough that there are recycling programs for them.
See this link: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/redrecy/mercdshm.htm
-guidance
Mercury is still used in many commercial products, and it
still has some value. Recycling also has the advantage
that it is going to a new owner, and the entity (i.e. school
district) that sent it to be recycled is no longer responsible
for it.
2)
Exchange: Some companies that sold mercury containing products
will accept them in exchange for a newer product that does not
contain mercury.
Welch
Allyn, a maker of Sphygmomanometers, is an example.
3)
Regulated Waste: Some
devices that may contain elemental mercury, like thermometers,
thermostats, barometers, blood pressure devices, etc, may or
may not be recyclable. For example some disposal
contractors do not like separating the mercury from the glass
in these products, as it can be a hazardous process. The
process is made even more difficult if the device is broken.
Another
option is to have the material disposed of as regulated waste. It may be the
only option for certain products that contain mercury that cannot be
recycled because it is very difficult or impossible to remove
the mercury from it. Fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, and
computer screens may be in this category.
Many school
facility
managers may be familiar with fluorescent light bulbs that
need to be returned intact. However, the low
mercury light bulbs are now also required to be
recycled. For information about light bulb disposal see
this link: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/hzwstman/lampdisp.html
For
information about Mercury disposal see the NYS Department of
Environmental Conservation website:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/35381.html-
A how to guide for mercury cleanout at schools
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/regs/374_3.pdf-
regulations
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/redrecy/mercdshm.htm
-guidance
If
the mercury that needs to be disposed of is less than one
pound (a small volume of mercury is quite heavy) it can be
shipped through the mail. You may wish to contact your
mercury recycling company to get appropriate containers to
ship it. For larger quantities, you may have to make
arrangements for special shipment in accordance with DOT
regulations.
If
you have any questions, contact your BOCES Health & Safety
Specialist.
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