Mercury is an element - present in everyday objects - among the most toxic and dangerous for the environment. The disposal of this liquid metal is subject to local and national laws because of the risk of environmental damage that it entails. That said, most household items that contain mercury actually only have a small amount of it, and it can be safely treated and then taken to a recycling center or some hardware stores for disposal. For any spill larger than a pea, it is advisable to contact a professional company that deals with the collection of hazardous waste.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Cleaning up a Mercury Spill
Step 1. Exit the room while planning the cleaning
Don't waste time on areas where metal has been poured until you are ready to clean it up. Close all doors, windows and openings that lead to the other rooms of the building and those that lead to the outside.
- Let everyone in the area know there is no access to the room or leave a sign on the door. Take all possible steps to ensure that children stay away.
- Limit yourself to turning on a fan, if it can blow the air towards an outside window that is not facing another room.
- If you can, lower the room temperature to reduce the spread of mercury vapor.
Step 2. Call a professional if the spill is large
If more than 2 tablespoons (30 ml) have been spilled, you should contact a specialized company that takes care of the disposal professionally. This is roughly equivalent to the size of a pea or the amount present in a mercury thermometer. If the spill is smaller or you can't find a professional, follow the next step. Otherwise:
- Search the Yellow Pages or search online for "hazardous waste disposal", "environmental engineering" or "disposal services" in your area to find someone you could contact.
- If the mercury has leaked outdoors, you can contact the ARPA in your region or ask your municipality for more information.
Step 3. Put on gloves, old clothes and old shoes, take off your watch and jewelry
Wear rubber, nitrile, latex, or vinyl gloves whenever you handle mercury. Also be sure to wear old clothes and shoes, as you will likely need to throw them away at the end of the operation. Since mercury can react with other metals, remove all jewelry and piercings, especially gold ones.
- If you don't have a disposable shoe cover, put your shoes in sturdy plastic bags and secure them to your ankles with rubber bands.
- If you have safety glasses, put them on. This is not critical if you need to collect a smaller amount of mercury than a pea, but if it is a larger spill it may be necessary to protect your eyes with a good quality mask.
Step 4. Spray the area with powdered sulfur (optional)
This isn't necessary for small leaks, but if you can get yourself a mercury cleaning kit at a hardware store, the powdered sulfur will make the task easier. This yellow powder turns brown on contact with mercury, so you can easily spot small spills; it also binds with mercury and facilitates its recovery.
Step 5. Place the small items and mercury fragments in a sharps container
Move with extreme caution, picking up pieces of broken glass or other small objects that have come into contact with the mercury. Put them all in a safe container, such as one designed specifically for this purpose or even a glass jar.
- If you can't find any suitable container, put the mercury in an airtight bag and then put it in a second identical bag; before putting the items in the bag, however, wrap them all in a paper towel.
- For now, leave out the tiny fragments of broken glass. You will deal with these later.
Step 6. Also close in a bag the material that has been contaminated, such as carpet, clothing or other soft material
If the mercury has fallen on an absorbent surface, you cannot recover this material yourself. You need to contact a qualified professional who can help you, but if you want to clean up the spill indoors, all you can do is pick up the affected part and throw it in a double trash bag.
Never wash this material, as it can contaminate the washing machine or pollute the water or sewage system
Step 7. Locate and collect visible debris
Use cardstock or a disposable spatula to run the mercury drops across the hard surface, collecting them in one place.
If you want to look for any further mercury leaks, dim the lights and aim a flashlight at the ground, looking for reflections. Mercury can spread quite far, so you need to inspect the whole room
Step 8. Transfer the mercury with a dropper
You can use this tool to collect liquid metal residue. Slowly squeeze any residue onto a damp paper towel, which you then need to fold and place in an airtight bag.
Step 9. Collect the tiny drops and splinters
You can use duct tape to pick up tiny particles of mercury or small pieces of broken glass. Wrap the adhesive tape around a finger covered by a glove, with the adhesive side facing outwards: in this way, collect the contaminants and throw everything inside a resealable bag.
Alternatively, dab some shaving cream on a disposable brush and collect the mercury with it. Finally, also throw the brush in the bag along with the mercury. Do not apply shaving cream directly to a contaminated brush
Step 10. Throw away all clothing and tools that have come into contact with the mercury
This also includes the shoes with which you walked on the contaminated area, the clothing on which the mercury may have spilled and any instrument that has even accidentally touched it.
Step 11. Continue to keep the fan on for 24 hours by pointing it outward
If possible, leave the exterior windows open for another day after cleaning. Keep children and pets out of the contaminated room during this time. In the meantime, follow the steps in the next section to learn how to get rid of contaminated materials.
Part 2 of 2: Dispose of Waste Containing Mercury
Step 1. Seal and label all containers used
Be sure to securely and hermetically seal any that you used to eliminate mercury. Clearly and unambiguously label them as "Mercury Containing Waste - Do Not Open".
Step 2. Check if other materials have mercury in them
Many household products actually contain it. While they are usually harmless until they break, they also still need to be disposed of as hazardous waste when you throw them out - they shouldn't be put in the regular trash. Search the internet for commonly used items that contain mercury, or refer to this short list:
- Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL).
- Liquid crystal displays (LCD) of television screens or computers.
- Button batteries for toys or mobile phones (but not lithium batteries).
- Any object containing a silver liquid (such as some types of thermometers).
Step 3. Ask your local council or ask your local ecological platform to find out how to dispose of the mercury
Very often it is the ecological platform that collects the mercury and disposes of it correctly
Step 4. Contact the manufacturer
Some companies take back their products for recycling. Among them are Home Depot, IKEA and others.
Step 5. Contact the Ecology Office of your Municipality or the ARPA of your Region
If you cannot find a recycling center in your area, do an online search to find the Ecology Office or the Department of Environmental Health in your area that can inform you about the regulations for the disposal of mercury. If you have a large amount of this metal to dispose of, you may need to go to a licensed and qualified company for professional treatment.
