Mercury disposal offered to residents

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality and local health departments are offering residents a chance to get rid of household products that contain mercury at selected locations throughout Utah.

Throughout April, residents can dispose of old mercury thermometers, thermostats and old chemistry sets where the white plastic, 5-gallon buckets marked for hazardous waste disposal are located.

Visit www.deq.utah.gov/issues/mercury/spills.htm for the disposal locations.

The department's statement did not indicate Mercury is a neurotoxin and, when released to the environment, can present health risks, including learning disabilities and mental problems. Children and pregnant women are particularly susceptible to mercury exposure.

Never remove the mercury from the products, but in cases of spills the mercury should be carefully gathered into a double plastic bag or inside a scaled container. Never use a vacuum cleaner or broom to clean up mercury.

This collection service is for Utah residents only and not available to businesses.