Where do Mercury thermometers and thermostats go?
A glass fever thermometer holds around half a gram of elemental mercury, which evaporates at room temperature and is inhaled rather than swallowed. Broken in a bin lorry it contaminates the whole load; vacuumed off a carpet it is atomised and blown around the room, which is why the EPA cleanup guidance is explicit that a vacuum cleaner is the worst possible tool. Intact devices go to a household hazardous waste collection. Mercury thermostats and mercury tilt switches are the same problem in a larger package. Hazardous waste collections are organised differently in every area — a permanent site, a monthly event, a booked collection — so find out how yours works.
How to prepare it
- Seal an intact thermometer in a rigid container before transporting.
- For a spill: ventilate, keep people out, pick beads up with stiff card and tape, seal in a jar.
What not to do
- Never vacuum mercury — it disperses the metal as inhalable vapour and contaminates the machine.
- Never sweep it with a brush or wash it down a drain.
- Never put mercury devices in any household bin.
Kerbside collection rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always win over general guidance. The reasoning above is what transfers — if your service differs, it will usually be for a reason described here.
Other things that go to hazardous waste collection
- Paint thinner, white spirit and turpentine Hazardous waste collection. Flammable, and lethal to a septic tank or a river.
- Pesticides, weedkiller and insecticide Hazardous waste collection, in the original container with the label intact.
- Asbestos Do not break it, do not drill it, do not sweep it. It needs a licensed route, and most household waste centres take it only by prior arrangement.
- Old petrol and diesel Hazardous waste collection. Stale fuel is still fully flammable.
- Bleach, drain cleaner and household chemicals Use them up as directed if you can. Anything left over goes to hazardous waste, in its own container.
- Antifreeze and screenwash Hazardous waste. Ethylene glycol tastes sweet and kills cats, dogs and children.
- Fertiliser, lawn feed and pool chemicals Hazardous waste. Oxidisers and concentrated fertiliser are reactive, not just polluting.
Common questions
- Where do Mercury thermometers and thermostats go?
- Hazardous waste. Never in a bin, and never vacuum a spill.
- What happens if you put Mercury thermometers and thermostats in the wrong bin?
- Never vacuum mercury — it disperses the metal as inhalable vapour and contaminates the machine. Never sweep it with a brush or wash it down a drain. Never put mercury devices in any household bin.
Related pages
- Where do Paint thinner, white spirit and turpentine go? Hazardous waste collection. Flammable, and lethal to a septic tank or a river.
- Where do Pesticides, weedkiller and insecticide go? Hazardous waste collection, in the original container with the label intact.
- Where do Asbestos go? Do not break it, do not drill it, do not sweep it. It needs a licensed route, and most household waste centres take it only by prior arrangement.
- Where do Old petrol and diesel go? Hazardous waste collection. Stale fuel is still fully flammable.
- Where do Bleach, drain cleaner and household chemicals go? Use them up as directed if you can. Anything left over goes to hazardous waste, in its own container.
- Where do Antifreeze and screenwash go? Hazardous waste. Ethylene glycol tastes sweet and kills cats, dogs and children.
- Where do Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
- Where do Lithium-ion batteries go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
- Where do Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
- Where do Medicines and tablets go? Pharmacy
- Where do Pizza boxes go? Kerbside recycling bin
- Where do Leftover wet paint go? Household waste recycling centre
Sources
- US Environmental Protection Agency — EPA (Public domain (US Government))