Mercury Hg Mercury is a naturally occurring element' This silvercolored liquid metal can be found in

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• Mercury (Hg)Mercury is a naturally occurring
  element. This silver-colored liquid metal can be
  found in rocks, soil and the ocean. Mercury can
  be released into the environment through natural
  processes when volcanoes erupt, rocks erode and
  soil decomposes.
• As a liquid metal at room temperature, mercury
  has been widely used throughout industry.
  Man-made sources of mercury include abandoned
  mines, energy production, sewage, industrial
  processes, mining, smelting, scrap metal
  processing and incineration or land disposal of
  mercury products or waste.

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What Are Mercury Containing Wastes?
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Types of Mercury Products

• Due to the unique properties of mercury, this
  liquid metal has been widely used in many common
  consumer products.

Measurement Devices Thermometers Thermostats
Manometers Barometers
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Electrical Devices Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Batteries Switches Consumer Electronics
Novelty Items Mercury Batteries singing
greeting cards, flashing jewelry, buttons or
stickers Liquid Mercury quicksilver mazes and
amulets from Mexico Mercury Switches some
flashing athletic shoes contain mercury switches
Other Mercury-Containing Products Dental
Amalgam Pesticides Fungicide in Some
Paints Topical Antiseptics Counterweights and
Dampers Antique Mirrors Clock Pendulums
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Dont Buy Mercury-Containing Products Unless
Absolutely Necessary

• Instead of Mercury (silver bulb) thermometer
• Use Digital, red bulb or other non-mercury
  thermometer
• Instead of Thermostats with mercury
• Use Programmable digital thermostats
• Instead of Normal fluorescent bulbs
• Use Low-mercury bulbs (green end caps) - should
  still be recycled
• Instead of Silver dental amalgam
• Use Tooth colored resin
• Instead of Mercuric oxide button batteries
• Use Zinc-air or other mercury-free button
  batteries

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How is Mercury Recycled?

• The first step in the recycling process is to
• mechanically pulverize any substances, through
• crushing and shredding. In order to break down
• mercury compounds and reduce noxious gases,
• additives are mixed with the effluent (the
  liquid
• containing the materials to be recycled). By
  doing
• so, mercury is easier to extract from the
• substances being recycled.

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Once the additives are blended with the effluent,
the liquid goes through a two-stage heating
process. In the first process, a low-temperature
air stream forces water vapor and other materials
off the materials. In the second stage, a
high-temperature air stream blows on the
effluent, vaporizing the mercury. This vapor
condenses as 99 percent pure metal, which is
suitable for reuse in other products.
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The water vapor which is removed during the first
stage undergoes a purification stage to remove
traces of mercury and any other impure
substances. The effluent left from the second
stage undergoes a gas purification stage also, to
remove similar impurities and ensure that it is
properly treated.According to Mercury Recover
Services, this process reduces the mercury
content of the treated substances to less than
one (1) part per millionregardless of the level
and form of mercury originally contained. In
this manner, a wide variety of substances such as
batteries, fluorescent lamps, electrical switches
and other materials, can be processed safely and
effectively.
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An important factor in mercury recycling is its
impact on demand for new, virgin resources mined
from the earth. As companies are compelled to
remove mercury from their products (or lessen the
amount needed), and current supplies of mercury
are properly reused, countries have begun to
collect surplus supplies of elemental mercury.
According to the United Nations Environment
Program (UNEP), large reserve stocks of mercury
held by various governments have become
superfluous, and are subject to future sales on
the world market if approved by the relevant
national authorities. This is the case in the
USAIn fact, the U.S. currently holds a
stockpile of four, 436 ton supplies of mercury,
with supplies being such that mercury has not
been mined domestically as a primary commodity
since 1992. According to the U.S. Geological
Survey, the declining consumption of
mercuryindicates that these world resources
are sufficient for another century or more of
use. As replacement of mercury by other, less
toxic, substances continues, demand for mercury
will continue to decline.
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Where In Montana Do You Recycle Mercury?

• Ace Hardware Pilot Recycling Program
• Home DepotHome Depot now offers free CFL
  recycling for consumers. Take expired, unbroken
  bulbs to the Returns desk for free recycling.
• Palmer Electric Technology Energy Services
  P.E.T.E.S. Palmer Electric was the first business
  located in Montana to offer recycling of
  fluorescent lamps. P.E.T.E.S. accepts spent lamps
  from businesses and residents for a small fee,
  and sees that they are recycled professionally.
• Mail-in Programs
• Veolia Environmental Services LampRecycle.org is
  a resource for information on recycling spent CFL
  bulbs.
• Think Green From Home Waste Management's mail-in
  recycling program for homeowners. Prepaid
  shipping containers for the safe collection and
  shipping of fluorescent tubes, batteries, and
  other mercury containing objects for recycling.
• Business Equipment Options
• Air Cycle Corporation