On 14/08/2012 19:02, djornsk wrote:
Some 30 years ago I broke a manometer used for balancing carbs and
collected the mercury into a glass jar which has been living in the shed.
I recently became a bit bothered about the potential risk should someone
disturb it when I am not around, so decided to take it to the local
recycling centre after establishing that they would accept it so long as
it was inside a sealed container.
To my supply the attendant took the jar and instead of taking it to a
secure cabinet as I expected just threw it in the metal recycling skip.
I can understand that mercury is a metal but so is plutonium and one
wouldn't expect that to be thrown in with the scrap.
Perhaps the explaination lies in the fact that the risks are to a degree
mitigated by mechanical handling and adequate ventilation from the time
the scrap is deposited in the skips, or alternatively the handling and
storage precautions ISTR from my schooldays were OTT.

Far from it. Mercury is incredibly toxic and the operative was either an
idiot or lacked basic training. I would report the matter to the local
Environmental Health department.


--
Peter Crosland