Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal
for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto

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Mercury Thermostats

A control device typically used in a heating and/or cooling system to maintain a set temperature. Older models contain liquid mercury and are considered hazardous waste. Newer models are electronic and considered electronic waste when non-working.

Household Hazardous Waste

This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.

In the old style of thermostats with a lever or switch - not the newer electronic kind - there is mercury inside the sealed glass tilt switch.

Properly recycling mercury thermostats is the law. Use the Thermostat Recycling Location Finder to find free drop-off sites near you. Residents, contractors, and businesses all qualify for rebates of up to $30 per mercury thermostat.

Vendors

Vendor Address City Destination Disposal Method Notes
ThermostatCare Recycling Location Finder Recycle Free Drop-off, Buyback Drop-off The Thermostat Care safe thermostat recycling program of California helps individuals and businesses properly dispose of old mercury thermostats that pose a health hazard to communities and the environment. $30 per unit rebate. See website for info and drop-off locations.
FixIt Clinic (In-person & Virtual) Repair Free Mail-in Self-repair through the Global Fixers Server on Discord or through Zoom FixIt Clinics.

Curbside Service

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