How to Safely Dispose of Mercury Thermometers

Let’s get real: those old-school mercury thermometers are ticking environmental time bombs. Mercury is toxic, and tossing them in the trash—or flushing them? Illegal, unsafe, dumb move.

So what’s the right move?

1. Don’t trash it. Mercury thermometers—and any mercury-containing device—must never go in your regular garbage, recycling bin, or down the drain.

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2. Package it securely. Keep the thermometer unbroken, or if it’s cracked, wrap it tightly in tape, then double-bag it in a sealed, leak-proof container. You’re basically handing over a potential hazard, not a party favor
   epa.gov

3. Find a proper disposal site. Here’s the kicker: use Earth911’s Recycling Locator or just call 1‑800‑CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687). They’ll tell you where to take your item for proper disposal
4. Drop it off at a Household Hazardous Waste event or facility. Many municipalities offer free HHW days. Use Earth911 or your city’s website to track those.
5. Skip mercury next time. Replace old thermometers with digital, alcohol-based, or galinstan versions—no toxins, zero drama

Why bother? Because when mercury ends up in landfills or incinerators, it contaminates air, soil, and water—getting into food chains and hurting people and wildlife . Plus, it’s illegal to dump it improperly.