Disposal of Mercury
 

On Tuesday, August 14, 2012 7:02:38 PM UTC+1, 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. j

When I was in a similar situation I found there were barometer enthusiasts keen to come and collect it from me.

Robert