Where to throw a mercury thermometer?

According to the laws on environmental protection, it is prohibited to discard hazardous substances and objects that contain them in general garbage collection areas. Where to throw a mercury thermometer in this case, because he treats exactly such things? In this article, you will find the answer to this question and many others concerning the disposal of hazardous mercury.

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Where to dispose of the mercury thermometer?

Not every city boasts the availability of places for the collection and disposal of hazardous waste. As a rule, such points are located only in large cities. Quite often, private companies are involved in this, but they require a fee for the services they provide.

So where to put the mercury thermometer, if there is no eco-organization or recycling center in your city? In this case, you need to contact a pharmacy or a clinic. These institutions, according to the current legislation, should take such items and continue to act according to the requirements.

If the pharmacy and the hospital refused to take a dangerous item, then you can call the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Important! As far as harmful mercury vapors are concerned, the Ministry of Emergency Situations has no right to deny you the satisfaction of your request.

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How to dispose of mercury?- Transportation rules

Determining where to put the mercury thermometer - this is another half of the matter. It is necessary to know how to properly assemble and transport harmful liquid metal to its destination.

Important! If the irreparable happened and the thermometer broke, do not panic. It is necessary to immediately take action for the elimination of the consequences.

Rules for collecting mercury:

1. Remove all people and pets from the room where the incident occurred. First of all, take care of children, pregnant women and elderly people.

Important! So you not only protect your relatives from the influence of harmful mercury vapors, but also prevent the spread of metal through the living room by carrying it on shoes or clothes.

1. Sideways illuminate the place where the thermometer falls. Thus, the droplets of liquid metal will be better visible.

Important! Collect mercury from the periphery to the center.

1. To prevent ball spacing and crushing them into smaller parts, eliminate any hint of draft.
2. If the temperature of the air in the street is much lower than in the house, you should open a window to cool the room. Thus, evaporation of metal vapors with decreasing temperature will not occur so quickly.
3. Put on your hands protective gloves, shoes - shoe covers. Protect the breathing path with a gauze bandage.
4. Take two sheets of paper, one of them is used as a scoop, and the second - as a brush.

Important! Do not use a broom for collection of mercury, as it will crush the balls into smaller particles and carry them to a larger area.

Vacuum cleaner is also prohibited. Using it, you will only help the rapid evaporation of mercury and spoil the device. After such an application, the dust-collecting unit can not be used for its intended purpose.

1. Draw small mercury balls with a rubber pear or syringe.
2. Collect the smallest particles with the adhesive side of an adhesive tape or patch.

Important! Collected mercury should be placed in a jar of water. Water will prevent the evaporation of the metal.

How to pack assembled metal?

1. After cleaning, the jar with water and collected metal must be closed with a tight lid.
2. The items that were used during the elimination of the "accident" should be collected in a dense plastic bag and handed over with mercury and a broken thermometer.

Important! If mercury particles have got on clothes, do not wash the product in a washing machine. It is best to dispose of such clothes.

1. All the premises where the incident occurred should be treated with a disinfectant solution.

Important! Wet cleaning should be repeated several times not two weeks after the event.

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Where can I dispose of the thermometer?

• Do not dispose of the mercury thermometer with other household waste in the trash or refuse chute.

Important! Two grams of mercury, which are available in a thermometer, can pollute six thousand cubic meters of air.

• Do not dispose of mercury by flushing the metal in the toilet. Thus, the residual gray liquid settles in the pipes, and it will be almost impossible to remove it.
• It is best not to attempt to dispose of the mercury thermometer yourself. If you dig it into the ground or throw it into the river, then greatly damage the environment, and you will also have problems with the law.

The problem of a broken mercury thermometer is quite common, but unfortunately, not everyone knows how to proceed correctly in this situation. The view that nothing really bad from such a small amount of metal does not happen is fundamentally wrong. It is possible that malaise and health problems will not appear immediately, but in a few years. Therefore, take measures to properly dispose of harmful substances. The best option for all people would be to refuse such unsafe medical items, as well as long-developed countries have done. But in our situation, whether to make from your home an unsafe zone, having a mercury thermometer in your home medicine chest, or not - caring for each of us.