We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

OMG Mercury.

:eek: Please can anyone Help not sure if thisis the right place to post!
not slept worrying as to what to do. Met up with my Brother last night, he ws telling me that he his cleaning out Mums things as she past away 12mths ago on the 31st bless her. Anyway he has said we have a problem when cleaning out the fitted wardrobe he has found a tin of MERCURY !!!! :eek: We really have no idea where it as come from but my brother seems to remember this tin there over 20yrs ago. the question is What do we do with it !!!!

Many thanks.
Every cloud has a silver lining:j
«13

Comments

  • amcluesent
    amcluesent Posts: 9,425 Forumite
    edited 20 March 2010 at 9:10AM
    Offer it on Ebay, buyer collects!

    Or bell Environmental Health at the council...
  • shandypants5
    shandypants5 Posts: 2,124 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Dont mess with it too much its REALLY dangerous stuff and gives off toxic vapours at room temperature.

    I am not sure who you should contact to take it away.
    Where did it come from?
    “Careful. We don't want to learn from this.”
  • hazybubbles
    hazybubbles Posts: 148 Forumite
    It needs to be dealt with by a chemical waste disposal company.
  • ormus
    ormus Posts: 42,714 Forumite
    ring the fire station for advice.

    do not dial 999! !!!!!!.
    Get some gorm.
  • Bigjenny
    Bigjenny Posts: 601 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Bake Off Boss!
    Get in touch with your COUNTY COUNCIL Environmental Department as it is classed as Hazardous Waste,and they should be able to tell you where to take it or arrange for a Specialist Company to collect and dispose of it. I broke an old mercury thermometer and the loal recycling centre won't deal with hazardous waste.

    HTH
    "When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us" Alexander Graham Bell
  • wallbash
    wallbash Posts: 17,775 Forumite
    Lets not panic.
    How much Mercury are we actually talking about .

    Some of us might remember we use to 'play' with small amounts in science lessons at school.

    quote found a tin of MERCURY
    Cant think of any reason why a private citizen should have a great deal of the stuff
    lying around. Its been there 20 years , a little while longer not going to make any difference.
  • keith969
    keith969 Posts: 1,575 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    You can probably sell it, it is expensive stuff. As long as the container is airtight it will be safe, but as pointed out mercury vapour is very toxic so don't go opening it.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamata_disease
    For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong.
  • wallbash
    wallbash Posts: 17,775 Forumite
    After further thought , the stuff might have some value.
    Don't be in a rush to get rid of it .

    How much have you actually got.


    Must type faster!!
  • 27col
    27col Posts: 6,554 Forumite
    Try a local scrap yard. They may not want it, but they might be able to tell you where you could sell/dispose of it. I would have thought that it had some value.
    I can afford anything that I want.
    Just so long as I don't want much.
  • walks wrote: »
    :eek: Please can anyone Help not sure if thisis the right place to post!
    the question is What do we do with it !!!!

    Sell it to someone who fixes broken thermometers.:cool:
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 354.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 247.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 604K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.4K Life & Family
  • 261.5K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.