Table of Contents
Can you throw away thermometers?
Don’t throw thermostats, thermometers, light bulbs in the trash! They contain mercury, a seriously dangerous toxin! Mercury is the 80th element on the periodic table and is useful for all sorts of things: thermometers, lights, batteries, even jewelry.
How do you clean up and dispose of a broken thermometer?
Place all materials used with the clean up, including gloves, in a trash bag. Place all mercury beads and objects into the trash bag. Label the bag “Mercury and Hazardous”. Contact your local solid waste director or recycling coordinator on how to properly dispose or recycle this material.
How do you clean a broken non mercury thermometer?
Cleanup and Disposal The non-mercury thermometers are non-toxic and environmentally safe. The broken glass should be placed in a sharps container to prevent injury. The remaining liquid can be cleaned up with soap and water.
What happens if a thermometer breaks?
Liquid mercury vaporizes (evaporates) at room temperature causing elevated levels of mercury in indoor air. Even the small amount of mercury from a broken thermometer can cause harm, especially to children, unless it is properly cleaned up and removed.
How do you dispose of digital thermometers?
Digital Thermometers Are E-Waste Remove batteries and dispose of them as household hazardous waste. Next recycle digital thermometers as e-waste, because they contain small electronic parts.
How do I know if my thermometer has mercury in it?
How can I tell if my thermometer has mercury? Mercury is a silver-white to gray substance. If your thermometer is filled with a red liquid, your thermometer contains red dyed alcohol or mineral spirits and not mercury. These are safer alternatives to mercury fever thermometers.
How much mercury is toxic from a thermometer?
Each thermometer contains about . 5-1.5 grams of mercury. One gram of mercury can contaminate a 20 acre lake, enough to cause a public advisory to be issued on the potential dangers of eating fish caught in that lake.
How do I dispose of a broken mercury thermometer UK?
Mercury thermometers do contain small amounts of hazardous materials and need to be disposed of safely. You can contact Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority to arrange to bring them to one of your local Household Waste Recycling Centres.
How do you dispose of cooking oil in Davis CA?
City of Davis customers may drop off used motor oil (in tightly secured containers) and oil filters at the Davis Recycling Center at no charge. For more drop off options, visit the City of Davis website.
How do you dispose of mercury thermometers?
Throw it in the regular trash. Take it to a specific site for hazardous waste collection. Call another facility/agency for guidance on how to dispose of it….METHODS
- county and local health departments;
- county hazardous waste facilities;
- recycling centers; and.
- state official(s).
How do you dispose of a broken mercury thermometer?
Cut out the carpet where the mercury has spilled, seal the carpet in a garbage bag and dispose of it in the same way you dispose of the broken thermometer. Kathryn has been a lifestyle writer for more than a decade.
Can you throw thermometers in the garbage?
Only mercury thermometers require special end-of-life handling; alcohol thermometers and digital thermometers can generally just be thrown in the garbage. If you’re not sure whether you have a mercury thermometer or alcohol thermometer, look closely at the narrow tube in the middle of the device.
How do you fix a broken thermometer with duct tape?
Wrap a piece of duct tape around your hand so the adhesive side faces out. Lightly press on the area where you broke the thermometer and slowly peel the tape back so the beads of mercury stick to the adhesive. After you remove any remaining mercury and glass, put the tape in the zip-locking bag so it doesn’t spill.
What should I do if I spill a glass thermometer?
Pick up any pieces of glass and set them on a paper towel. Set a dry paper towel close to the spill so you can easily reach it. Carefully pick up the broken glass pieces of the thermometer and put them on the paper towel. Collect the largest shards of the thermometer first before picking up smaller ones. [6]