Non-electronic measuring devices (such as mercury-containing thermometers and sphygmomanometers (i.e. blood pressure meters)) may be found in households. You can now recycle your unwanted mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers at Recycling Stations during office hours. For details of Recycling Stations, please refer to the following link: https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/community/crn_outlets.htm#recyc_stations
Pre-handling of Unwanted Domestic Mercury Thermometers or Sphygmomanometers (Before Delivering to Recycling Stations)
- Only intact and domestic mercury-containing thermometers and sphygmomanometers are acceptable for depositing at Recycling Stations.
- Please put the unwanted thermometers and sphygmomanometers in zipped strong transparent plastic bags, or sealed containers with tight-fitting lids (e.g. plastic containers with lids). The containers should not be too large that may allow the recycled items easily broken therein during handling.
- Alternatively, both items can be held in their original protective case or packaging. However, please remove the other parts of sphygmomanometers which cannot be recycled, if possible.
Distinguishing Whether the Thermometers or Sphygmomanometers Contain Mercury or not?
Only Mercury-containing thermometers or sphygmomanometers for domestic use are acceptable for depositing at Recycling Stations. There are two common types of non-digital domestic thermometers, i.e. mercury thermometers and alcohol thermometers. Mercury thermometers are made of glass, which contain silvery-white liquid in the thermometer bulbs. If the liquid in the thermometer appears in a colour other than silvery-white, it is likely an alcohol thermometer.
Liquid containing in mercury sphygmomanometers is also silvery-white in colour. Sphygmomanometers other than mercury sphygmomanometers, including aneroid and digital sphygmomanometers, are not acceptable for recycling at Recycling Stations.