The Department of Natural Resources is launching a statewide roundup of mercury in Missouri. There will be around 50 mercury drop-off sites in the state, including four in the St. Louis area.
The department is working with fire departments and county health offices to provide drop-off locations where citizens and non-profit agencies can leave instruments containing mercury like thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, thermostats or switches.
The program does not include compact fluorescent bulbs. Information about the proper disposal of CFLs is available here.
Citizens interested in disposing items at these sites should secure the item in two zip-lock plastic bags and secure it in a crush-proof container like a coffee can or plastic bottle.
Anyone uncomfortable with transporting mercury instruments, or who has large amounts of mercury instruments can contact the department's spill line at 573-634-2436 to have the item picked up.
The St. Louis area drop-off sites include:
- St. Charles Fire Dept., 400 North Drive. 636-949-3572
- Franklin County Fire Dept./Emergency Management Agency, 200 E. 14th St, Washington. 636-390-1020
- Jefferson County Health Dept., 405 Main St., Hillsboro. 636-789-3372
- Dept. of Natural Resources Environmental Emergency Response Section, 97 N. Outer Rd., Eureka. 636-938-7808 or 636-938-7809
Call ahead before before taking items for disposal. Never leave items if facility is closed.
The mercury roundup will end on May 31. Department staff will then collect the items and transport them to Jefferson City to recycle what can be recycled and dispose of the rest properly.
A complete list of mercury drop-off sites is available here. More information on mercury's health effects and how to clean up a small mercury spill is available on the department's website.
