The most common type of mercury-containing switches are tilt switches. Tilt switches are activated by a change in orientation (e.g. turning on/off the light in a vehicle engine compartment when the hood is opened and closed).
The information below will:
- Help you identify products that contain mercury switches,
- Identify mercury-free alternatives where available, and
- Provide information on proper disposal of products containing mercury.
Identifying Products Containing Mercury Switches
Tilt switches are found in a variety of products including chest freezers, clothes washers, clothes irons, space heaters, laptop computers, and sump and bilge pumps.
Alternatives
Alternatives to mercury-containing switches are available and include the hard-contact mechanical switches.
Disposal Information
Households
- Bring useable or repairable appliances to a company that can refurbish them and sell them at reduced rates to needy families.
- Bring unusable appliances to a local solid waste collection center in your area.
Households should dispose of other items which may contain mercury switches (e.g. sump pumps, clothes irons, space heaters, etc.) at local household hazardous waste collection events sponsored by their local municipality or solid waste district.