Storage of Waste Mercury-Containing Products

Waste Mercury-Containing Product Handling and Storage Guidelines
for Commercial/Institutional Facilities

• All employees who handle or manage mercury-added products shall be informed of proper handling and emergency procedures.
• Store mercury added products (fabricated products) in a designated area which is separate from solid waste disposal. (fabricated products do not include elemental mercury or mercury compounds)
• Signs must be posted on the storage area that are clearly visible.
• Properly identify mercury-added products by labeling each collection container with, "(Waste) or (Used) or (Universal Waste) Mercury-Containing products."
• Store containers for no more than one year.
• Broken mercury-added devices must be managed as a hazardous waste. At a minimum, the device, the released mercury and cleanup debris should be sealed in a plastic bag and transferred to a closed compatible container labeled "Hazardous Waste" (with a description of the contents).

Mercury-Containing Lamps

• Do not crush mercury-added lamps. Lamps should be stored in ways that avoid breakage as crushing releases mercury vapors that may pose health and environmental risks. Broken lamps are hazardous waste.
• Mercury-added lamps should be placed in packaging functionally equivalent to that used to ship new lamps. (Lamp recyclers can provide adequate containers for collection).
• Seal full packages with tape (Do not tape lamps together). Label packages with wording such as "Waste (or Used) Mercury-Containing Lamps(s)" or "Universal Waste Mercury-Containing Lamps"
• Store packages of lamps no more than five (5) feet high.

Additional Information on storage and disposal options:

• Contact your local municipality or solid waste district.
• See the following environmental fact sheets:
  • FACT SHEET: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
  • FACT SHEET: Mercury Spills