Storage of Waste Products that Contain Mercury

Waste Mercury-Containing Product Handling and Storage Guidelines for Commercial and 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).

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.

Contact your local municipality or solid waste district.
See the following environmental fact sheets:
- Fluorescent Lamps: Handling and Disposal Guidelines
- Waste Mercury-Added Devices: Handling and Disposal Guidelines.