Thermometers Illegal in Garbage & Drains Contains Mercury Hazardous Waste Electronic Waste Hazardous Waste Collection Thermometers containing mercury and/or digital thermometers need special handling to avoid toxic exposure for waste workers, the community, and the environment. City Specific Disposal OptionsPlease check with your city page (residential or commercial) to confirm if additional options are available, such as home collection, drop-off locations, and/or events. (These options vary per city.) Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and E-Waste Drop-OffYour city or county may offer HHW drop-off sites and collection events.– Los Angeles County: S.A.F.E. Collection Centers and events– Riverside County– San Bernardino County– Ventura County Disposal Options For BusinessesHazardous waste and e-waste cannot be placed in your containers. Schedule a Special Waste Collection by emailing [email protected] or calling Athens’ Customer Service Department at 888-336-6100. Fees may apply. Some HHW drop-off centers may allow drop off by small business generators (check links above). How to Check for Mercury A silver, metallic liquid will be visible from inside the bulb or vial if the thermometer contains mercury. Digital Thermometers Are E-Waste Remove any batteries and dispose of them as household hazardous waste. Then dispose of digital thermometers as e-waste because they contain small electronic parts. Ways to Reduce Don't Buy Mercury Mercury is a highly toxic substance. Avoid purchasing mercury to reduce the amount that leaches into lakes and rivers. Invest in Quality To reduce waste, invest in a quality thermometer that will last a long time. Did You Know? Mercury-Free Medical Devices Only Decades ago, healthcare facilities in U.S. and Europe were responsible for contributing most of the mercury polluting our environment. Once they realized the dangers of mercury exposure, they phased out the use of medical devices containing mercury.