DEQ.utah.gov - News Release: Celebrate Earth Day: Get the Mercury Out

NEWS RELEASE
April 2, 2007

Contacts:
Donna Kemp Spangler, (801) 536-4484
Public Information Officer, DEQ
Sonja Wallace, (801) 536-4477
Pollution Prevention Coordinator, DEQ

Celebrate Earth Day: Get the Mercury Out

(Salt Lake City, Utah) – In recognition of Earth Day, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) encourages residents to take advantage of free disposal of mercury products such as old thermometers, old chemistry sets and thermostats, at local Health Departments statewide.

Last year, DEQ teamed up with local Health Departments to offer mercury disposal at selected locations where white plastic 5-gallon buckets marked for hazardous waste disposal are situated. This year, the buckets have been provided courtesy of Veolia Environmental.

“A total of 375 pounds of mercury was collected between April and October last year. The tremendous success has prompted many local Health Departments to offer this service year round,” said Sonja Wallace, pollution coordinator for DEQ. “Since Earth Day is celebrated in April, it is a reminder to get rid of mercury responsibly by keeping it out of the landfills.”

In addition to mercury disposal, many local Health Departments are offering residents a chance to exchange their old mercury thermometers for digital ones.

Mercury is a neurotoxin and, when released to the environment, can present health risks, including learning disabilities and mental problems. Children and pregnant women are particularly susceptible to mercury exposure. Never deliberately break or remove the mercury from the products but in cases of mercury spills the mercury should be carefully gathered into a double plastic bag or inside a sealed container. Never use a vacuum cleaner or broom to clean up mercury. Visit www.deq.utah.gov/Issues/Mercury/spills.htm for more information on proper clean up.

This collection service is for Utah residents only. Salt Lake Valley Health Department is holding community collection events April through September. Visit one of the following locations for dates and times to turn in your mercury-bearing products:

Wasatch Front

Salt Lake City: Jordan Park, 1100 South 900 West (enter off of Fremont Avenue). Fourth Thursday of each month April – September 2007, 7-10 a.m.
Holladay City: Holladay City, 4626 South 2300 East. Third Thursday of each month, April – September 2007, 7-10 a.m.
Sandy: Sandy Public Works, 8775 South 700 West. Second Thursday of each month, April – September 2007, 7-10 a.m.
Farmington: Davis County Health Department Environmental Health Services Division, 99 S. Main St., Farmington, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 801-451-3296 for more information.
Layton: Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District, 650 E. Highway 193, Layton, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Call 801-614-5600 for more information.
Provo: Utah County Health Department, 151 S. University Ave. Suite 2600, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Ogden: Weber-Morgan Health Department, 477 23rd St., Ogden, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Tooele County

Tooele: Tooele County Health Department, 151 N. Mail St., Tooele, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Cache County

Logan: Bear River Health Department Environmental Services Building, 85 E. 1800 North, Logan, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Brigham City: Bear River Health Department, 817 W. 950 South, Brigham City, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Summit/Wasatch Counties

Park City: Summit County Public Health Department, 6505 N. Landmark Drive, Park City, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Kamas: Summit County Public Health Department, 110 N. Main St., Kamas, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Coalville: Summit County Public Health Department, 85 N. 50 East, Coalville, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Heber: Wasatch County Health Department, 55 S. 500 East, Heber City, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Northeast Uinta Basin

Vernal: TriCounty Health Department, 147 East Main St., Vernal, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Roosevelt: TriCounty Health Department, 281 East 200 North, Roosevelt, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Central Utah

Richfield: Central Utah Public Health Department, 70 Westview Drive, Richfield, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday during April 2007.

Southwest Utah

Cedar City: Southwest Utah District Health Department, 260 East DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
St. George: Southwest Utah District Health Department, 168 North 100 East, St. George, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Southeast Utah

Price: 28 S. 100 East, Price, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday

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Celebrate Earth Day: Get the Mercury Out