Environmental Services Program

Mercury Roundup

Department of Natural Resources sponsoring mercury drop-off sites in Missouri

The amount of mercury found in the atmosphere, soil and water has increased during the last hundred years due to human activities. Mercury is emitted into the atmosphere by coal fired power plants, waste incineration and improper disposal of mercury products. Mercury poisoning attacks the central nervous system in all humans. Unborn children and children under the age of 12 are at the highest risk, because their nervous system is still developing.

The greatest risk of exposure from elemental mercury in products such as fever thermometers is improper handling and disposal of spilled mercury. To help reduce that exposure risk, the department is launching an effort to rid homes of mercury, with nearly 50 mercury drop-off locations throughout the state. The Mercury Roundup will end May 31, 2012.

Working with fire departments and county health offices throughout the state, the department is providing mercury drop-off locations in communities statewide. Any private citizen or nonprofit agency can leave mercury-containing instruments, such as thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, thermostats or switches, at any of these sites.

This program does not include compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs. For more information on the proper disposal of CFLs, see Household Compact Fluorescent Lamp Use and Disposal, Fact Sheet--PUB2273.

Citizens seeking to dispose of items at these sites should first secure the item in two zip top plastic bags and then place it in a crush-proof sealed container, such as a coffee can,  plastic margarine tub, or plastic beverage bottle.

Department staff will collect the dropped off items at the end of May for consolidation and transport them to Jefferson City to recycle what can be recycled and properly dispose of the rest.

A person who is uncomfortable with transporting mercury instruments, or who has large quantities of mercury, can contact the department's spill line at 573-634-2436 to arrange to have items picked up.

For more information about the mercury roundup, contact the nearest participating agency or the department’s Environmental Services Program at 573-634-2436. Visit mercury for more information on mercury, including mercury in your home and business, health effects and how to clean up a small mercury spill.  

Mercury roundup drop-off sites are listed below.

Please call the site before taking mercury instruments for disposal and never leave items if the facility is closed. The Mercury Roundup will end May 31, 2012. Unless otherwise noted, mercury drop-off hours are for Monday through Friday:

Kansas City area and northwest Missouri:

• Harrisonville Fire Department, 903 S. Commercial, 816-380-8952, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call ahead on weekends.
• Belton Fire Department, 16300 N. Mullen Rd., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
• Belton Fire Department, 223 Main St., 816-331-7969, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
• Excelsior Springs Fire Department, 1120 Tracy, 816-630-3000, Daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Clinton County Health Department, 106 Bush St., Plattsburgh, 816-539-2144, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Tri-County Heath Department, 302 N Park, Stanberry, 660-783-2707, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• St. Joseph/Buchanan County Health Department, 904 S. 10th St., 816-271-4635, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Maryville Department of Public Safety, 222 E. 3rd St., 660-560-3209, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Kansas City Household Hazardous Waste Center, 4707 Deramus, 816-784-2082, Thursday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Platte County Health Department, 1201 East St., Parkville, 816-858-2412.
• Platte County Health Department, 212 Marshall Road, Platte City, 816-858-2412.
• Johnson County Health Department, 429 Burkharth Road, Warrensburg, 660-747-6121, ext. 257, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Central Missouri:

• Osage County Emergency Management Office, 205 East Main, Linn.
• Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 2710 W. Main St., Jefferson City.
• Phelps County Health Department, 200 N. Main St., Rolla.

Northeast and north-central Missouri:

• Mexico Department of Public Safety, 300 N. Coal, 573-581-2100, Saturday through Sunday.
• Moberly Fire Department, 310 N. Clark St., 660-269-8705.
• Macon Fire Department, 201 Jackson St, 660-385-6436.
• Carrollton Fire Department, 710 Harvest Hills Drive, 660-542-2178.
• Hannibal Fire Department, 205 S. Fourth St., 573-221-0657.
• Trenton Fire Department, 310 N. Clark St., 660-269-8705.
• Chillicothe Fire Department, 700 Second St., 660-646-2139.
• Kirksville Fire Department, 401 N. Franklin St., 660-665-3734.
• Marshall Fire Department, 471 W. Arrow St., 660-886-3312.

St. Louis area:

• St. Charles Fire Department, 400 North Drive, 636-949-3572.  Call before delivery.
• Franklin County Fire Department/Emergency Management Agency, 200 E. 14th St., Washington, 636-390-1020. Call for hours.
• Jefferson County Health Department, 405 Main St., Hillsboro, 636-789-3372, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
• Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Emergency Response Section, Rt. 66 State Park Visitors Center, 97 N. Outer Road, Eureka, 636-938-7808 or 636-938-7809. Call before delivery.

Southeast Missouri:

• Cape Girardeau Health Department, 1121 Linden St., 573-335-7846, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Dent County Health Department, 601 S. MacArthur, Salem, 573-729-3106, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• West Plains Fire Department, 302 Jackie D. Garrett Drive, 417-256-2424, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Perry County Health Department, 406 N. Spring St., Perryville, 573-547-6564, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• St. Francois County Health Department, 1025 W. Main, Park Hills, 573-431-1947, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Missouri Department of Natural Resources – Southeast Regional Office, 2155 N. Westwood, Poplar Bluff, 573-840-9750, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Scott County Health Department, 102 Grove Estates Court, Sikeston, 573-471-4044, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Dunklin County Health Department, 410 Teaco Road, Kennett, 573-888-9008, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Texas County Health Department, 950 N. Highway 63, Houston, 417-967-4131, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday.
• St. Genevieve County Health Department, 115 Basier Drive, St. Genevieve, 573-883-7411, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Madison County Health Department, 806 W. College Ave., Fredericktown, 573-782-2747, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Southwest Missouri:

• Christian County Health Department, 301 E. Brick, Ozark, 417-581-7285. Call for hours.
• Lawrence County Health Department, 105 W. North St., Mt. Vernon, 417-466-2201, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Jasper County Health Department, 105 Lincoln, Carthage, 417-358-0481, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m.)
• Newton County Health Department, 812 W. Harmony, Neosho, 417-451-3743, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Stone County Health Department – North Office, 109 E. Fourth St., Galena, 417-357-8200. Call for hours.
• Stone County Health Department – South Office, 16914 State Highway 13, Branson West, 417-272-0050. Call for hours.
• Taney County Health Department – East Office, 15479 U.S. Highway 160, Forsyth, 417-546-4725. Call for hours.
• Taney County Health Department – West Office, 320 Rinehart Road, Branson, 417-334-4544 ext 247. Call for hours.
• Webster County Health Department, 233 E. Washington, Marshfield, 417-859-2532, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Department of Natural Resources Southwest Regional Office, 2040 W. Woodland, Springfield, 417-891-4300, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Map and Driving Directions
• Polk County Health Department, 1317 W. Broadway, Bolivar, 417-326-7250, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m.)
• Vernon County Health Department, 301 N. Washington, Nevada, 417-667-7418, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.