Oregon DEQ: Land Quality - Mercury Information - How To Properly Dispose of Mercury

Mercury is highly toxic. Proper disposal of mercury-containing products is important to ensure that mercury does not get into the environment. Because mercury does not break down, it tends to build up in the environment. If improperly disposed, mercury-containing products can end up in landfills or incinerators, allowing mercury to eventually find its way back into surrounding soils, surface water, groundwater, and the food chain.

Never put mercury in the trash or in a burn barrel.
Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean up mercury.
Never pour or allow mercury to go down the drain.
Never clean up big spills (more than one pound of mercury) by yourself.

Fluorescent lamps and bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, typically 4 to 12 milligrams (0.004. to 0.012 grams). The best way to dispose of used fluorescent lamps is to deliver them to a qualified recycler, who will separate the mercury, glass and metal from the lamps. Do not break the lamps prior to disposing of them! If you cannot find a lamp recycling firm in your area, take them to a household hazardous waste collection center or event whenever possible.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Schedule
Lamprecycle.org
Lighting manufacturers, through their trade association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) developed lamprecycle.org to provide a one-stop source of information about recycling mercury-added “lamps.”

Some thermometers contain liquid mercury, which when spilled can form droplets that accumulate in cracks and other small places. These droplets can emit vapors that can't be seen or smelled. Breathing mercury vapors is extremely dangerous. Used mercury-containing thermometers should be taken to a household hazardous waste collection event.

Follow this link for more information about how to clean up a mercury spill.

For more information about safe mercury disposal, call the Metro Recycling Hotline. Portland area: 503-234-3000; toll-free outside the Portland area and within Oregon, 1-800-732-9253.