[Press Release] : Health Department is a mercury drop-off site

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Larry Archer, Department of Natural Resources - (573) 751-3807
or Gerry Worley, Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and
Human Services - (573) 874-7346

Health Department is a mercury drop-off site
homeowners, not-for-profit agencies targeted 

COLUMBIA, MO (February 2, 2009) - Beginning today and continuing
throughout February, the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public
Health and Human Services will serve as a local drop-off site for
mercury-containing instruments. The Missouri Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) is sponsoring the month-long cleanup, with nearly 90
mercury drop-off locations throughout the state, including 11 in central
Missouri.

DNR has placed mercury drop-off buckets in communities statewide. Any
private citizen or non-profit agency can leave mercury-containing
instruments, like thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, thermostats or
switches at any of these sites. The program does not include compact
fluorescent bulbs. A fact sheet detailing the proper disposal of CFLs is
available on the department’s Web site:
http://www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub2273.pdf.

To properly package mercury-containing instruments for disposal,
citizens should first secure the item(s) in two zip top bags and place
it in a sealed container (such as a coffee can or plastic margarine
tub). The extra packaging is required to prevent the release of mercury
if the item breaks while being transported. CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO
CONTACT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT (573) 874-7346 BEFORE ARRIVING WITH
MERCURY-CONTAINING ITEMS. An Environmental Health Specialist will meet
citizens outside the building and place the mercury-containing items in
sealed containers. The health department will accept drop-offs Monday,
Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 8 a.m.-7
p.m. Citizens may NOT leave items if the health department is closed.

DNR will collect the dropped off items at the end of February and
transport them to Jefferson City. They will be picked up by a state
contractor, who will recycle what can be recycled and properly dispose
of the rest. Anyone who is uncomfortable with transporting mercury
instruments, or who has large quantities of mercury, can contact DNR’s
spill line at (573) 634-2436 to arrange to have items picked up. 

A complete list of statewide drop-off sites is available online at
http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/mercury-collection.htm.

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