Nevada Appeal Capitol Bureau
Friday, April 23, 2021
The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is holding free events where people can dispose of common items that may contain mercury.
Those items include older thermometers, electronic devices with LCD screens and some antiques.
A spokesman said those items must be disposed of properly because they pose health risks if people ingest, inhale or come into contact with mercury on the skin.
The first event is April 24 in Hawthorne next to Veteran’s Memorial Park.
After that there are events May 15 in Tonopah, Goldfield and Eureka.
NDEP Administrator Greg Lovato said the agency is planning mercury collection events for numerous communities across the state and these are just the first ones.
If the liquid in a thermometer is silver, he said it’s most likely mercury. Some antiques including mirrors are coated with the metal.
Appliances ranging from freezers to clothes dryers, televisions, cars and other products may all contain mercury switches.
In addition, jewelry imported from Mexico sometimes contains mercury as do compact fluorescent bulbs.
