Household mercury items like thermometers and thermostats can be properly disposed of in the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program.
How to determine if your non-digital fever thermometer has mercury in It
Newer non-digital fever thermometers often use alcohol or a non-toxic compound that looks similar to mercury. Ask:
- Is the liquid in the thermometer any color other than silver? Then it is most likely alcohol.
- Is it silver? Then it may be mercury or possibly a non-mercury substance.
For details on cleaning up a mercury spill or broken thermometer, see these guidelines from the U.S. EPA.
Businesses must contract with a licensed environmental services company for proper disposal or recycling. See our Business Recycling Directory.