Safe & Responsible Mercury Recycling: A Comprehensive Guide

Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is a highly hazardous chemical element that is found in many household appliances, including light bulbs, thermometers, vacuum gauges and barometers. Because of its toxicity, mercury cannot be flushed, placed in the trash or handled in any way. Instead, mercury spills must be treated with utmost caution.

Things You'll Need

• Stiff paper
• Air-tight containers
• Zinc and copper flakes
• Ziploc bags
• Eyedropper

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Instructions

• 1

  Open your windows and turn off all heating appliances in your home. Use index cards or parchment paper to pick up large mercury beads, place it in a container, and seal it tightly. Pick up small beads with an eye dropper.

• 2

  Sprinkle zinc and copper flakes around the area where the mercury spilled, which will clump together particles of mercury, and contain the resulting beads. Place all items that have come into contact with any mercury in a Ziploc bag.

• 3

  Take the contained mercury to a hazardous waste collection event, which are conducted by municipalities every year.