Turn in items with mercury in April for free

Officials from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality and local health departments are teaming up to help residents at many locations throughout Utah get rid of household items that contain mercury, a dangerous chemical.

These items include old mercury thermometers, thermostats and chemistry sets.

"To keep mercury out of municipal landfills, throughout the month of April residents can dispose of mercury at selected locations where white plastic five-gallon buckets marked for hazardous waste disposal are situated," a DEQ press release said.

The buckets were provided courtesy of Onyx Environmental.

Mercury is a neurotoxin that, when released into the environment, presents health risks including learning disabilities and mental problems, according to the DEQ.

The free collection service is available only to Utah residents and not to businesses. Disposal locations are listed by the DEQ on its Web site, www.deq.utah.gov.