Mercury-containing light bulbs, thermostats, and most other products are banned from our landfill. See below for information on (1) disposal, (2) safety, and (3) collection resources.
Mercury Product Collection and Spill Safety
Mercury-containing lightbulbs may be collected for free* at collection locations near you. Find your nearest collection location at lamprecycle.org.
Lightbulbs with mercury (banned from trash):
- Fluorescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), black lights
- High intensity discharge bulbs (HID) (including those in vehicles)
- Ultraviolet bulbs
- Neon bulbs
Lightbulbs without mercury (may dispose of in trash)
- Incandescent
- Halogen
- Light Emitting Diode (LED)
*Vermont offers free collection of unlimited amounts of CFL bulbs and up to 10 per day of 2' to 8’ fluorescent tubes, U-tubes, circular, HID, and mercury vapor bulbs from Vermont residents, small businesses, and institutions (such as schools)
For larger quantities of non-CFL mercury bulbs:
- check with your local municipality or solid waste district for recycling options
- contact a local electrical wholesaler who offers bulb recycling to their customers or a commercial lamp recycler (a business that collects and recycles mercury, glass, and metal components).
- hire a licensed hazardous waste transporter for bulb pick-up
Learn more about storing, properly recycling, and cleaning up breakages of mercury-containing lightbulbs in this Fact Sheet.
Lightbulbs banned from sale in Vermont:
- Screw-based and GU-24 based compact florescent lightbulbs (CFLs)
- 4-foot linear florescent tubes
Contact: sarah.hobson@vermont.gov for reporting or more information.
Mercury-containing thermostats may be collected each for $5 cash back at collection locations near you. Find your nearest collection locations at thermostat-recycle.org
Mercury thermostat identification: Remove the front cover of the thermostat. Look for small glass tubes (ampoules) that contain a silver liquid—this is the mercury.
Contact for more information:
Danielle Myers, Operations & Compliance Manager at Thermostat Recycling Corporation
Desk Phone: 267-513-1726; Cell Phone: 267-524-2383
Other mercury containing products include:
- Thermometers
- Pressure and other gauges
- Mercury-containing switches
- Mercury flams sensors and temperature probes
- Mercury button cell batteries
The products are landfill banned and hazardous. They are collected at hazardous waste collection events near you.
2. Break and Spill Response Guidance and Safety
When mercury is released, it quickly spreads harmful vapors that you can't see or smell.
After a break or small spill, do NOT use a vacuum or a broom. Instead, ventilate the area, isolate it from other rooms, and evacuate it for at least 15 minutes. After at least 15 minutes, clean up the broken pieces and mercury droplets with gloves and stiff paper or cardboard (e.g. playing cards) and wipe the area with a damp paper towel. Place that plus cleaning materials and gloves in a glass jar or double bags and store outside and away from children and pets. Broken and spilled mercury must be taken to hazardous waste collection events, not regular recycling locations.
For Large (over 2 gallons) and Acute Spills: call the 24 hour spills hotline at 800-641-5005
For Small Breaks and Spills, see block links below
3. For Collectors: Site Registration and Compliance
Learn more about how to comply with our safety and handling guidelines below and contact Sarah Hobson (802-636-7926; sarah.hobson@vermont.gov) to register as a collector for mercury light bulbs or thermostats.
Mercury Added Product Collectors Handling and Storage Guidelines:
- Employee Training:
- Ensure all employees handling mercury-added products know proper procedures for handling and emergencies.
- Storage Area:
- Store mercury-added products separately from other waste.
- Post visible signs at the storage area.
- Label collection containers with “(Waste) or (Used) or (Universal Waste) Mercury-Containing Products.”
- Time Limit:
- Store containers for no more than one year.
- Broken Devices:
- Treat broken mercury devices as hazardous waste.
- Seal the broken device, released mercury, and cleanup materials in a plastic bag, then place in a closed container labeled "Hazardous Waste" with a description.
Mercury-Containing Lamps:
- Handling:
- Do not crush mercury-added lamps. Crushing can release harmful mercury vapors.
- Store lamps in a way that prevents breakage.
- Broken lamps are hazardous waste.
- Packaging:
- Use the same packaging as new lamps or containers provided by lamp recyclers.
- Seal packages with tape (do not tape lamps together).
- Label packages with “Waste Mercury-Containing Lamps” or “Universal Waste Mercury-Containing Lamps.”
- Storage Limit:
- Do not stack lamp packages more than 5 feet high.
- Do not stack lamp packages more than 5 feet high.
