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Hazardous Wastes Accepted at the WSWMD Facility
The following wastes are accepted at the The WSWMD Facility, therefore we ask people not to bring them to the special household hazardous waste (HHW) collection events. Click on the listed items for details.
Mercury
Don't Trash Mercury
Awareness of the problems with mercury (Hg) has increased greatly thanks to the statewide thermometer exchange program and other initiatives. Items you might have around your home that may contain mercury include:
- thermometers with silver liquid (Contact Us or come in the our offices (Directions) to exchange mercury fever thermometers for a digital model),
- thermostats,
- gas-fired appliances,
- fluorescent light bulbs,
- button-size batteries,
- diary barn manometers,
- and more.
Products with mercury in them should not be thrown in the trash. They should be taken to a Hazardous Waste collection. This is because mercury is harmful to human health and the environment. Damage to the nervous system, brain, and reproductive system can occur through inhaling mercury vapors or through consumption of contaminated fish or birds. Children and pregnant women are the most vulnerable to mercury poisening.
Fish and loons often have elevated mercury levels in their bodies. When mercury gets into surface waters, it is transformed by aquatic microorganisms into methyl mercury. Methyl mercury is bioligically retained in the organisms much more easily than elemental mercury. Then the methyl mercury "bioaccumulates" as bigger creatures eat lots of little creatures. The animals at the top of the food chain, like fish and loons, therefore have accumulated the most mercury--that's why there are fish consumption advisories in New England and loons die.
For more information about what's happening with mercury in Vermont, visit the web page of the Mercury Education and Reduction Campaign http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ead/mercury/merc.htm
Mad as a Hatter?
In the past, felt hat makers used mercury while making their hats. Their exposure to mercury lead to the deterioration of their brain and left them, well... mad! Hence the expression. What do I do if I break a mercury fever thermometer?
If you break a mercury thermometer (or have any sort of mercury spill), it's important that it be cleaned up.
- Immediately after the spill, keep all people and pets away from the spill area. To minimize the mercury that vaporizes, turn off any heaters and turn up any air conditioners. Ventilate the area by opening windows, when possible, and leave open for at least two days.
- NEVER USE A VACUUM to clean up a mercury spill. Not only will the mercury contaminate your vacuum, the heat from the vacuum will evaporate the mercury, further distributing it throughout the house. Similarly, never use a broom to clean up mercury. It will only distribute the mercury into smaller beads, and will contaminate the broom.
- Useful items for the clean up include latex gloves, an eyedropper, two stiff pieces of paper, a flashlight, and duct tape or packing tape, and a container you can seal like a wide-mouth jar or large zip-lock bag. Remember that any tools used for the clean up should be considered contaminated and disposed of with the mercury.
- Remove all jewelry and watches as mercury will bond with the metal. Put on gloves to minimize your contact with the mercury.
- Use the flashlight to locate the mercury. The light will reflect off the mercury beads and make them easier to find. You can use the stiff paper to push beads of mercury together. Use the eyedropper to suction the beads of mercury, or use the paper to carefully lift the beads into the container. Pick up remaining beads of mercury with sticky tape. Place all the items you've used into the container and label it as mercury waste. Then bring it to one of a Hazardous Waste collection for proper disposal.
Batteries
Many types of batteries contain hazardous materials and may become hazardous waste when disposed improperly. The State of Vermont bans the disposal of rechargeable and lead acid batteries in solid waste.
At The WSWMD Facility on Old Ferry Road, we collect batteries for recycling. There is a fee for lead-acid batteries (car batteries) and large batteries (like for electric fences). Rechargeable, lithium, and button batteries are accepted free of charge.
- Regular Alkaline Batteries: (AAA, AA, C, D, 9-Volt) Go in trash.
NOTE: The squat batteries used in cameras are usually Lithium, not alkaline, and should be brought to The WSWMD Facility to be recycled.
- Rechargeable batteries:
(from cell phones, toys, power tools, laptop computers, cordless phones, digital cameras, etc.)
Types: Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel-Metal-Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium-Ion (Li-ion), and others.
Any and all rechargeable batteries must be recycled through a particpating retailer (i.e. Brown & Roberts Ace Hardware, Staples, Wal-Mart) or brought to The WSWMD Facility. The RBRC is the nation's non-profit battery recycler: http://www.rbrc.org.
- Button Batteries: Button-sized batteries must be brought to The WSWMD Facility.
- Car Batteries: Please recycle them through an auto parts store or bring them into The WSWMD Facility. There is a $3 fee per battery.
- Big Batteries: (electric fence) Big batteries must be brought to The WSWMD Facility. There is a $3 fee per battery.
For more information:
Motor oil
WSWMD accepts used motor oil at The WSWMD Facility. We can also accept transmission fluid, petroleum based liquid lubricants, kerosene or diesel/heating fuel. We will not accept gasoline or antifreeze, nor will we accept oil in containers larger than five gallons. Do not leave motor oil or filters without first checking in with the scalehouse operator.
Motor oil received by WSWMD will be inspected when it arrives at the facility, and the customer may be required to wait until the inspection is completed. Any oil that contains water, gasoline, antifreeze or other contaminants (such as solvents, leaves, etc.) will be refused and returned to the customer.
Contaminated oil may only be disposed of when we have a household hazardous waste day. To ensure that your waste oil will be accepted, it should be stored indoors in tightly covered containers, and no contaminants should be added to the oil. We also accept oil filters. There is a charge for oil filters: $0.25 for car and light truck filters, $0.50 for large truck and heavy equipment filters.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Waste fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps must be managed properly because they contain mercury. In Vermont, these lamps are designated as "universal waste" and are banned from disposal as a solid waste. These lamps are collected at The WSWMD Facility for a per-linear-foot fee.
Do not break or crush lamps because the mercury may be released. If lamps are accidentally broken, store them in a sealed container. Pick up spilled powder and add it to the sealed container.
Ballasts are collected because they often contain PCBs, which are a hazardous waste. Ballasts can be dropped off for a fee of $3 apiece for non-PCB, and $6 apiece for PCB ballasts.
Windham Solid Waste Management District
327 Old Ferry Rd., Brattleboro, VT 05301
Phone (802)257-0272 | Fax 257-5122 | E-mail recycle@wswmd.org
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