Mercury Thermometers
If you have a mercury thermometer, we suggest you call your local solid waste or streets department to ask when and where your next local household hazardous waste collection program will be held. In the meantime, store your thermometer in a rigid plastic container or a plastic bag, out of reach of children.
Mercury Thermometer Collections
The Department of Natural Resources encourages local governments and businesses to collect mercury thermometers from the public and from schools. This will help minimize public health risks from broken thermometers and keep mercury out of the environment. During 2004-2005, the DNR offered grants for persons holding thermometer collections. The 2004-2005 grant has expired and DNR no longer offers any financial assistance to cover outreach or disposal costs.
More Information
Related Links
- Mercury Spills and Cleanup
- DNR Mercury Resources
- Wisconsin Specific Universal Waste Guidance - Revised November 2008 (PUB WA742) [PDF 1.1MB]
- The Medical Waste Reporter (PUB WA1065) [PDF 60KB] (January 2001 issue) See page two of this DNR newsletter for advice on holding a mercury thermometer collection.
Related Sites
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services Fact Sheet on Mercury Spills [exit DNR]
- Clean Sweep [exit DNR] locations of Wisconsin's household hazardous waste programs
- Health Care Without Harm [exit DNR] has a publication describing how to hold a mercury thermometer collection, How to Hold a Mercury Thermometer Exchange [exit DNR]
- Practice GreenHealth [exit DNR] (formerly Hospitals for a Healthy Environment) Information on reducing mercury in the health care sector
- Universal Waste, ch. NR 673, Wis. Adm. Code, [exit DNR]
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mercury in Healthcare [exit DNR]
- Northeast Waste Managers Officials' Association (NEWMOA) [exit DNR] Click on "Mercury," "Mercury Health Care," or "Mercury Thermometers".
Contact Information
For questions and comments about mercury thermometers, please contact:
DNR Medical Waste@Wisconsin.gov
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