Recycle Items Containing Mercury Through County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program

The Macomb County Health Department reminds health care providers, contractors and residents that mercury and mercury-containing devices can be recycled at no charge through Macomb County’s Household Hazardous Waste collection program.  

Mercury is a neurotoxin. Mercury from broken healthcare devices like thermometers, blood-pressure devices, or esophageal dilators slowly vaporizes. These vapors are invisible and odorless. Inhaling the vapors can potentially cause central nervous system and kidney effects. Children and fetuses are especially vulnerable.

In 2002, then Gov. John Engler signed into law a bill banning the sale of mercury thermometers. In 2006, then Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed into law bills that banned the sale of heat-regulating thermostats, blood pressure measuring devices and esophageal dilators that contain mercury.

Since 2004, Michigan schools have phased out mercury use in the classroom and health offices. This phase-out included liquid (free flowing) elemental mercury and mercury-containing instruments such as thermometers and blood pressure gauges.

Despite these efforts, mercury-containing products still exist. For information on the collection and proper disposal of mercury and other household hazardous waste, call the Macomb County Health Department’s Household Hazardous Waste hotline at 586-466-7923 or log on to the website at http://www.macombcountymi.gov/publichealth/EH/HouseholdWaste.htm.