News Information

SCHNECK TO HOLD MERCURY THERMOMETER EXCHANGE AT SEYMOUR’S EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
April 6, 2012

On Saturday, April 21, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Seymour’s Earth Day Celebration, the Schneck Green Team will be hosting a Community Mercury Thermometer Exchange. The Earth Day Celebration will be held at Shields Park.

The first 150 individuals who bring their old mercury thermometers to the Schneck Green Team booth will receive a new digital thermometer, free of charge.

The exchange is being held in an effort to eliminate hazardous materials in your home and in community landfills, and to educate residents about the potential hazards posed by mercury found in thermometers and many other common household products such as thermostats, fluorescent light bulbs, light switches, and button batteries. When these products are incinerated, land filled or broken, the mercury can pollute the environment. All of these products can—and should—be disposed of properly at household hazardous waste collections or by calling a licensed hazardous waste disposal company.

Exposure to mercury may cause a variety of health effects in people, children, and developing fetuses are particularly sensitive to its hazards. Depending on the level of exposure, mercury can cause damage to the nervous system, brain, kidneys, liver, and immune system.

“Mercury thermometers are a common source of mercury in municipal trash. With a thermometer exchange event, we can reduce the amount of mercury in the waste stream, and at the same time, educate consumers about the need to be conscious and careful about the products they buy and how they dispose of them,” said Andy Hagedorn, Director of Facilities at Schneck.