Thermostats Alternative ways to recycle Illegal in Garbage & Drains Contains Mercury Hazardous Waste Electronic Waste E-Waste and/or Hazardous Waste Collection Thermostats 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.) E-Waste & Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-OffYour city or county may offer 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 BusinessesE-waste and hazardous 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 Remove the thermostat’s cover and check if you see a bulb or vial that contains a silver, metallic liquid. If present, this liquid is mercury. Smart and Digital Thermostats Are E-Waste Smart thermostats and digital thermostats need to be disposed of as e-waste. Alternative Ways to Recycle Return to an HVAC Wholesaler Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) wholesalers are required by law to accept mercury thermostats free of charge. Find collectors who will recycle your thermostat. Ways to Reduce Replace Mercury Thermostats Most thermostats are made without mercury now so they are less damaging to the environment and more energy efficient. Consider updating your thermostat to save energy, money and avoid a hazardous mercury spill.