Participating collection programs
If you
have elemental mercury, mercury-containing compounds or mercury-containing
devices from your home, you can take them to a HHW facility or collection event.
There is usually no charge for disposal of this type of waste. Statewide HHW
programs are listed here:
- HHW collection event schedule
A
month-by-month calendar of locally-sponsored HHW collection events. For
additional information about HHW collection in your area, call 1-800-732-9253,
your local garbage hauler, or local government solid waste department.
- Map of HHW collection events and
facilities
A map with information of permanent collection facilities,
local contact information and dates of locally-sponsored events.
- Oregon HHW collection programs/facilities,
by county
Free home pick-up
If there is no HHW disposal
program available in your county or nearby counties, call the DEQ solid waste
technical assistance staff member in the nearest DEQ regional office regarding
free pick-up of mercury from your home by a DEQ hazardous waste contractor. To
be eligible for free pick-up of mercury, you must meet the following criteria:
- Mercury must be in the elemental (liquid) form.
- There must be at least 10 pounds of mercury to be picked up (about 3/4 cup).
If you have less than 10 pounds, DEQ may be able to pick it up in special
circumstances (call the nearest DEQ regional office to check on this).
- You must be willing to hold on to the mercury and store it safely until the
DEQ contractor is available to pick it up.
Recycle fluorescent
light tubes compact fluorescent light bulbs by taking them to a HHW
collection event or facility (see links above) or to a retail location.
For a business or other non-household source (CEGs, including
schools)
A conditionally exempt generator creates less than 220 pounds of hazardous
waste and 2.2 pounds of acutely hazardous waste per calendar month and does not
accumulate more than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste (2.2 pounds of acutely
hazardous waste) at one time.
Collection facilities or events
If you are a business, school, or
other non-household site that is a CEG, you can take elemental mercury,
mercury-containing compounds or mercury-containing devices for safe disposal to
a permanent HHW collection facility or a HHW collection event. There may be a
small charge for disposal and pre-registration is usually required.
- HHW collection event schedule
A
month-by-month calendar of locally-sponsored HHW collection events. For
additional information about HHW collection in your area, call 1-800-732-9253,
your local garbage hauler, or local government solid waste department.
- Map of HHW collection events and
facilities
A map with information of permanent collection facilities,
local contact information and dates of locally-sponsored events.
- Oregon HHW collection programs/facilities,
by county
For heating, ventilating and air conditioning
contractors/wholesalers
You can recycle mercury thermostats through
the Thermostat Recycling Corporation program. If your company has seven or more
contractors/technicians, or is located in a rural area, you are eligible to get
your own recycling container from TRC.
Other options
Other options for safe disposal of CEG mercury waste
are contracting with your hazardous waste vendor or hazardous waste contractor
or recycling programs available through manufacturers or others.