Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
Household Thermostats
Disposal
Some heating and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors,
wholesalers and distributors collect wall-mounted mercury
thermostats for recycling as part of a free national thermostat
collection program. Contact heating and air
conditioning contractors and suppliers in your area to see if they participate in this program.
If a household hazardous waste collection event or facility is
not available, small household thermostats
may be disposed
of in the regular trash. This is the least-preferred disposal
option, but it may be the only option available in some areas.
Thermostats should be placed in a strong
plastic zip top bag and wrapped in several layers of newspaper.
The wrapped newspaper should be sealed
with strong tape and placed in the trash.
These procedures are intended for small devices like thermometers or
thermostats from households only. Contact your local health department
or a hazardous waste disposal company for
assistance in disposing of larger quantities of liquid mercury.
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